By SARIT LASCHINSKY

Special to The Press

Fire Chief Matt Krapf reported to supervisors at their virtual Oct. 12 meeting that the department’s truck committee had settled on a manufacturer for the new 5121 Engine/Tanker replacement.

The new engine will replace the department’s existing 1977 tanker.

Krapf said the truck committee had presented the proposal a week earlier to the fire department membership, which selected Rosenbauer America LLC as the manufacturer.

The apparatus’ total cost will be $686,762 with a total build time of 395 days.

the truck is expected to be in service at the end of 2021.

Krapf also said officers will be working on the final necessary equipment list for the tanker.

According to the report, the new Engine 5121 specifications include a five-passenger cab, 600 HP Cummings engine and a 4000 series Allison transmission, a 3,000-gallon water tank and 20-gallon foam cell, a 2,000-gallon-per-minute pump, and double the compartment space of the existing tanker.

In other matters, Krapf reported firefighters had a slow month with only seven calls in September, bringing the total fire calls for the year to 160.

He noted Utility truck 5192 has been put out of service indefinitely, adding the apparatus will not pass inspection and its repair costs are higher than the unit’s value.

He said Weisenberg’s fire company is working with another fire department interested in purchasing the unit.

Krapf also reported that five members are enrolled in an emergency vehicle operators’ course.

He added an Eagle Scout project to help construct the new Weisenberg Fire Training Center, which will include a firefighter maze and roof simulator, is underway.