The Seeley Lake Fire Board approved $50,000 for the purchase of a used Type 6 Wildland Fire Engine at a special meeting June 13.
Fire Chief Dave Lane took the Department’s Type 6 engine 716 out of service earlier this spring after noticing it had several fractures in the frame. One of the fractures was at the rear shackle.
“That is a huge safety issue,” said Lane.
He said the frame would need to be replaced, making it not cost effective to fix. Vice Chair Gary Lewis said that the frame can be welded but then it will not meet the safety standards required for an emergency vehicle.
Recognizing the importance of having a wildland engine for the community and as a potential revenue source for the department, Lane presented the board with a few replacement options that were less than $50,000 at the May board meeting. He felt that the rest of the equipment will need to be upgraded in the next three-five years but there is nothing more pressing than the Type VI.