Mount Prospect replacing its busiest fire engine

Mount Prospect trustees voted Tuesday to spend up to $647,000 to replace the fire department's busiest engine.

Engine 13, which was bought in 2002 and resides at the main station downtown, was sidelined in 2010 as a result of budget cutbacks. It was restored to active duty after five years, a move made possible by a federal grant that enabled the village to reinstate firefighter positions.

Fire Chief Brian Lambel said in the 11 months since it was returned to service, the fire engine has received more than 2,300 calls.

"It is one of the busiest engines in the area," he said, adding that it serves more than one purpose, being used for rescue as well as fire suppression. It carries the same amount of equipment an ambulance does, with the difference being it does not handle transports.

The new engine, a Pierce Ultimate Configuration Dash CF, will have more room in the front and a cab that is lower to the ground for easier access. The hose access is also lower to reduce the strain of reaching it.

As with Engine 13, it will have extrication equipment, known as the "Jaws of Life," but it will be mounted on the front of the engine for easy access.

A committee picked the engine and decided to buy it through the Houston Galveston Area Council Cooperative Purchasing Program, which the department joined in 2014. And it cut the original purchase price of $715,000 by deciding, for example, that the light tower was not needed. The money will come from the Community Investment Program - which funds capital projects.

"It's going to be a lot easier to use, getting equipment and hoses off the truck, versus what we have currently," said Trustee Richard Rogers.

Trustee Steven Polit agreed, saying "it's great that we're looking at making things easier for them to get out of the truck."