READING, Pa. – The Reading Fire Department is getting six new trucks.
“In our environment where they get used very hard every day, they’re out the door multiple times, and our folks need reliable equipment, and the citizens of the City of Reading need the reliable equipment as well,” said Reading Fire Department’s First Deputy Chief Michael Glore.
Glore says the department has been waiting for these new trucks for more than 3 years.
“It’s very satisfying to see this come to fruition. Finally,” said Glore.
The National Fire Protection Association recommends fire equipment should not be used on the front lines for longer than 15 years, and then only used in reserve until 25 years old.
Glore says Reading’s oldest truck is 30 years old, making it far past its prime.
“Our fleet aged more and more, and it became harder and harder to catch up and keep reliable equipment in the street,” said Glore.
Now, after entering a leasing program with Pierce Manufacturing, the department will finally be getting three new engines, two ladder trucks and a brush truck.
Glore says the goal is to help the department upgrade its aging fleet with newer and more reliable equipment.
“For as much as they’re steel, aluminum, et cetera, they’re also very heavily laden with electronics. And a failure in that regard can be as critical as a failure, a mechanical failure of some of the metallurgy in today’s fire apparatus,” said Glore.
The Reading Fire Department tells 69 News the rest of the new fleet will be arriving later this month.