Although a bit out of the area, the Princeton Fire Department, in Bureau County, (two hours from Chicago) is looking to replace their 1980, Pierce Arrow, LTI, 100′ rear mount tower ladder. The Bureau County Republican online edition has an article with the story that can be read HERE.

Princeton Fire Department IL Pierce LTI tower ladder

Princeton's 1980 Pierce Arrow 1,250-GPM 100' LTI rear mount tower ladder. Princeton FD photo

At Monday’s meeting, the Princeton City Council heard from Princeton Fire Chief John Petrakis and Justin Walters, fleet maintenance superintendent for the fire department, on their concerns about the department’s existing ladder truck, which is 30 years old and showing some signs of problems.

Princeton’s aerial truck is one of only nine in a four-county area. The closest aerial truck for mutual aid is 16 miles away in Spring Valley, but the Spring Valley Fire Department will only send its truck company for mutual aid if the temperature is above a certain level, so the unit doesn’t freeze, he said.

The cost to buy a new “demo” truck is $780,000, Petrakis said. … The cost to buy a brand new custom-specified truck would be more than $1 million.

“If our fleet maintenance superintendent and our fire chief and all of our firefighters think it’s a good idea, then I think it’s a good idea,” (City Manager) Fiegenschuh said. “I think we should bite the bullet and go ahead and do it.”

Thanks to Dennis McGuire, Jr. for spotting the article.