A new fire engine is coming to the peninsula. The Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly introduced and passed a shortened time ordinance at their meeting on Tuesday night to place a purchase order for a new, custom fire engine for the Nikiski Fire Department.
As part of fiscal year 2024 Annual Budget, Nikiski Fire Service Area (NFSA) appropriated $550,000 in capital funds for a new Fire Engine for Station #3. Working with Huston Galveston Area Cooperative (HGAC) contract pricing, Nikiski Fire and the Borough Purchasing Department have received a quote from Hughes Fire Equipment of $578,000 for the new Pierce Fire Engine.
There was a time constraint on the order, which prompted the request for shortened time on ordinance 2023-19-23, which was sponsored by Borough Mayor Peter Micciche. In order to ensure a timely construction and delivery of the new engine, the Nikiski Fire Service Area needed an additional $31,500 appropriated by the assembly to cover the cost of the engine purchase. Had the purchase order not been made with Hughes Fire Equipment by October 31st, there would have been a substantial price increase on the engine.
Normally, ordinances are introduced during an assembly meeting, then receive hearing time during a follow up meeting. In the case of time constraints, like the fire engine, the assembly can introduce and vote on an ordinance in the same meeting.
Nikiski Fire Chief, Trent Burnett said the new engine will be much more practical for the station to which it will be assigned. “So, when we built Station 3, we had a larger pumper [engine] that we were keeping out there. It has a hard time getting down the narrow roads and getting into the driveways in that area. It’s pretty much a residential area. So, the idea behind this truck is it’s a smaller fire truck that will have an easier time getting down the roads and into these narrow driveways for fire suppression and emergency response.”
According to Chief Burnett, the new engine is a custom build which will be built to NFD specifications.
At its meeting on October 11th, the Nikiski Fire Service Area Board recommended unanimous approval of this ordinance. The appropriations made in this ordinance are of a project length and nature which would not result in a lapse at the end of any particular fiscal year.
The ordinance passed unanimously as a part of the assembly’s consent agenda.