By Aileen Wingblad
The Oakland Press
BLOOMFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. The Bloomfield Township Fire Department recently received a new $1.8 million firetruck — described as “state-of-the-art” — thanks to federal funds from the American Rescue Plan Act.
Fire Chief John LeRoy said a need for the vehicle was realized after the 2022 fire at Oakland Hills Country Club, which destroyed its clubhouse.
“After the fire at Oakland Hills, we saw certain limitations with our current trucks in terms of length and adaptability,” LeRoy said. “We needed to find some flexibility when dealing with large structure fires.
The new addition, a Sutphen SPH100, has a longer ladder which will be especially helpful when fighting fires at larger homes in the township and surrounding communities, he noted.
“That 20 extra feet of ladder makes a huge difference,” LeRoy said. “It’s about improving the performance and capabilities of our firefighters.”
Federal funds paid for the new firetruck ( Jose Guzman, Bloomfield Township Cable and Communications Dept .)
The truck also has a safety bucket which can easily accommodate two firefighters, he said.
Firefighters will undergo additional training because of the truck’s length and newer components. The goal is to have it outfitted and ready for service this spring. The truck has an expected lifespan of 25 years.
The Bloomfield Township Fire Department is a member of OAKWAY, which provides mutual aid to several communities.
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