East Liverpool Mayor Ryan Stovall (left) and Fire Chief Bill Jones (right) look over the city’s brand new fire truck shortly after arrival at Central Fire Station around noon Tuesday. The truck, which will replace an existing reserve vehicle, was paid for through federal grant funds. (Photo by Stephanie Ujhelyi)

EAST LIVERPOOL — Nothing like a bright and shiny new fire truck to start off a Tuesday morning.

Around noon, East Liverpool Fire Department had a special delivery from up north as representatives dropped off the city’s new pumper truck.

Except for slight delays caused by an equipment modification after firefighters visited the truck in Michigan last month and a traffic snafu, the department received the truck outside Central Fire Station, where passers-by couldn’t help but stop and brake to admire the new acquisition.

According to Fire Chief Bill Jones, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) paid down $372,000 for the new vehicle, which takes a 28-year-old vehicle out of the department fleet. City officials had to come up with the difference, which was $18,000.

In mid-July, fire officials traveled to Western Michigan to conduct final inspections on their new Ahrens Fox commercial rescue pumper. Built on an International chassis and powered by a Hale Qmax 1,250 GPM pump along with the ability to carry 732 gallons of water, this new rig has a higher capacity than their current vehicles’ 500 gallons, Jones explained.

He said that firefighters already have begun the transfer of equipment from the old to new vehicle, which will be lettered next week, and hopefully be in service by September.

sujhelyi@reviewonline.com