SJFD to replace 20 year old Ladder Five truck

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) -- The St. Joseph Fire Department is one step closer to getting a new fire truck.
The new truck will replace its current Ladder Five truck, a 26 year old, 95 foot Sutphin.
The new Ladder Five will have a 100 foot aerial piece and a tower ladder. The truck has been 10 years in the building process and is currently in Springfield, Missouri receiving its final touches.
The new truck will cost $1.65 million. Fire Chief, Ivan Klippenstein, said SJFD was able to pay for the truck in advance which saved the SJFD a significant amount of money.
"That was during COVID when everything was kind of crazy. So we paid in advance back then and it's taken care of now,” he said.
Klippenstein said typically, SJFD likes to change a truck every 10 to 15 years depending on the condition; however, the department keeps trucks with large ladders for over 20 years.
“It's not very frequent that we do it, obviously, but the next one is slated for 2027. So we're already looking into the next purchase,” Klippenstein said.
Klipperstein also said the new truck gives SJFD different opportunities in different ways.
“This particular truck has a great deal of storage space compared to our older truck, which will make things easier to carry and find in that truck. It will also give us the opportunity to keep the old truck as a reserve truck," Klippenstein said.
Keeping the old truck as a reserve truck is something new o the department.
"We're going to do an ISO (International Organization for Standardization) audit very soon and that's one of those things. There's a lot of little categories to fill, but that's one of them we haven't ever filled before."
SJFD is expected to receive the new Ladder Five in two weeks.