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By Buzz Trexler

Star Correspondent

Elizabethton Fire Department was given approval Thursday night to replace its 26-year-old ladder truck with a $1,789,400 Pierce-Custom Enforcer Aerial firefighting vehicle that has a 107-foot ladder.

The city currently stations a 1998 ladder truck at Fire Station 3 and its life expectancy is 30 years old. There is a four-year backlog for the new specialty vehicle. By placing the order now, the replacement vehicle is expected to be available by the end of 2028.

According to the summary provided to City Council, the ladder truck will be purchased from Pierce Manufacturing Co., Appleton, Wisc., which is a Sourcewell contracted provider. The purchase will be completed by Siddons-Martin Emergency Group, of Memphis, which is the regional distributor.

The contract calls for three annual payments of $450,000 – the first of which is included in this year’s budget – with a final payment of $289,467.51 due upon delivery. The city is receiving a discount of $149,923.49.

Once the new vehicle is delivered the department plans on keeping the 1998 truck in reserve but will be looking for a place to house the vehicle.

According to the department website, the Elizabethton Fire Department operates three stations:

— Station 1, also called Central Fire Hall on South Sycamore Street, which was constructed in 1961 and serves as the department headquarters. It is manned by five full-time firefighters per shift including battalion chief, lieutenant and sergeant. The station maintains and operates three frontline fire apparatus.

— Station 2, 1200 W. G St., Dennis Younce Fire Station, which was constructed in 1970 and is manned by two full-time firefighters per shift. It maintains and operates one frontline apparatus and one reserve fire apparatus. The station is named for Fire Chief Dennis Younce, who served as chief from 1958 to 1982.

— Station 3, 100 Buck Van Huss Drive, Bill Carter Fire Hall, was built in 1997 and is manned by three full-time firefighters per shift. It maintains and operates two frontline fire apparatus. It is named for Fire Chief Bill Carter, who served as chief from 1982 to 1997.