Whitehall Township’s new fire truck, a $543,180 state-of-the-art vehicle, has officially arrived. It is currently being outfitted with equipment, after which it will be inspected and delivered to the West Catasauqua station.

Fire Chief David Nelson said the truck was manufactured by Wisconson-based Pierce.

A ceremony - known as a “washdown” - will be held at the West Catasauqua building, during which time the volunteer firefighters will push the new fire truck into the station’s bay.

West Catasauqua Fire Station built a new addition to house the fire truck.

In December 2015, the township ordered and signed the contract for the fire truck. It will replace the station’s current primary vehicle, a 1997 Spartan/Marion truck, which will now be a secondary reserve vehicle, according to Mayor Edward D. Hozza Jr.

Changes to the new truck incorporated by Nelson include compartments for tools and equipment identical to the fire trucks at the other township stations, enabling a firefighter from a different station to quickly access the equipment from the truck.

Pierce is now building a new fire truck for the Egypt station, and an aerial fire truck for Fullerton may be the next purchase.

Hokendauqua received a new fire truck in recent years as well as an upgrade to the station. Cementon also has its own station and trucks.

Hozza said the life expectancy of a fire truck is 25 years.