Nixon council considering safer fire truck

NIXON — City Council is considering purchasing a new engine pumper tank/fire truck for $256,000— a move officials say is a good idea because the city’s current trucks are getting old.

Mayor Hector Dominguez and Fire Chief Mark Mendez told the council during their July 14 meeting the trucks— both 1984 models— are potential liabilities and need to be replaced.

“We had a structure fire not too long ago that I happened to be at, working with the fire department,” Dominguez said. “I was running the engine and we had two of our firefighters that were up inside of the attic fighting the fire inside. We were running water from that 1984 tanker to the engine — and the tanker broke; so, we had two firefighters inside of a house with no water being run.”

Dominguez noted that although the men were safely evacuated, the incident could have been a lot worse. Fortunately, Smiley and Belmont fire departments were there to help.

“We [were lucky enough] to have Smiley there with us,” he said. “Belmont responded as well, because it was a fairly big structure fire.”

Dominguez also said the city has signed agreements with other local municipalities to establish mutual aid, but added that he wouldn’t be happy having to call upon other fire departments every time such an incident occurs.

“At some point it gets old, when we’re having to call Smiley, we’re having to call Belmont, every time we have a fire,” he said. “We never want to say it is because we don’t have the equipment. But it’s the God’s honest truth.”

City Manager Manuel Zepeda said he has been speaking with different lenders regarding purchasing the new truck. In the meantime, the city is using a rescue reserve demo truck. The council will hold its next meeting on Aug. 11.