Snoqualmie buys new fire engine

The Snoqualmie Fire Department will get a new flagship for its fire truck fleet.

The city placed an order this week for a brand-new, half-million-dollar pumper truck from the Crimson Fire company of South Dakota. The order takes almost an entire year to fill.

The new truck carries six firefighters and 500 gallons of water, puts out 1,500 gallons of water per minute, and has an all-new capacity for Snoqualmie, foam, allowing the city to better fight fires.

“It definitely puts us with the most current firefighting capability possible,” said Snoqualmie Fire Chief Bob Rowe.

The city looked at seven different truck vendors this past March.

Snoqualmie paid for the truck through mitigation money from the Salish Lodge’s planned expansion.

A new truck is just about the biggest purchase a fire department can make.

“This is the big one,” said Snoqualmie Battalion Chief Todd Reynolds.

The city piggybacked on Snohomish Fire District’s truck bid process.

“If you can tag in to somebody who has already ordered one, you don’t have to go through the full bidding process,” saving time and money, Reynolds said.

New fire trucks have a lot of custom technology and safety equipment that make them spendy.

The truck’s capabilities could mean a better rating for the local fire department, which means insurance savings for Snoqualmie homeowners.

The purchase replaces a 1983 Seagrave pumper, which will be handed down to another fire department.

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