Huron fire gets new truck

HURON — On Friday, Huron fire's newest vehicle entering its fleet — a ladder truck — rolled up to the station. While new to Huron, it's actually a used 2007 truck in nearly pristine condition, officials said. "We know it's a good unit and can get a minimum of 10 years, if not 15 years, out of it," Huron city manager Stu Hamilton said. Since Friday, firefighters have continued to get acclimated with this vehicle, maneuvering around local roads, mounting equipment and getting familiar with how it handles "The guys are impressed with how it drives and how smooth the ladder itself operates," said Huron fire Chief Kevin McGraw, who expects this truck to go out on fire calls by mid-April. "Over the next few weeks, we'll continue to mount equipment and train on its operations to ensure a smooth transition to running it on calls," McGraw said. Fire truck details Here are some details to understand about Huron's new fire truck • The replacement: Huron needed to swap out its 1997 ladder truck due to a major equipment failure. The malfunctioning part, which no one makes anymore, effectively won't let the extendable ladder portion rotate or pivot. This marks the part's second breakdown. • The swap: Once the 2007 vehicle goes into service, then Huron fire will sell the 1997 truck on a public auction site. • The "new" vehicle: Known as a ladder truck, it's considered a heavy-duty fire apparatus, coming with a large, extendable ladder to reach high floors and perform rescues on structures standing several stories tall. • The cost: In December, city council members authorized the fire department to buy a $475,000 used ladder truck. During the past three months, the truck underwent service and a yellow paint job, conforming to how other Huron fire vehicles appear. • The split expense: Because Huron Township represents a 50/50 partner in local firefighting operations, it covered half of this cost, $237,500. Huron city funds, meanwhile, offset the mirroring balance. • The savings: New ladder trucks these days run about $2.5 million, according to city officials, who said, right now, they simply cannot afford that expense. The city's everyday operating budget totals $6.4 million entering 2026, and it could pursue a fire levy to help offset shortfalls in the department's budget. • The timeline: Another drawback to receiving a new fire truck, beyond cost — there's anywhere from a two- to three-year waiting period, from the purchase date, political subdivisions must wait before receiving a truck bought. Buying a used truck, meanwhile, expedited this timeline. • The fleet: Across two stations — one in Huron on Main Street, another in Huron Township on Bogart Road — the department typically operates with five vehicles, including a ladder truck. It also uses smaller vehicles and ambulances. • The partnership: "Not enough can be said about how this whole project came together in such a short amount of time," McGraw said. "It speaks volumes of the relationship between the city and township and the work the apparatus committee put in to get this done in just a few months."