Lost fire truck replacement in limbo

A fire engine lost during Storey County's American Flat fire last weekend was insured for $180,000, but officials aren't sure it's enough to purchase a replacement.

"We're in the process of finding out if that's going to be enough," said John Gillenwater, district chief for the Central Lyon County Fire Department.

"The insurance adjuster hasn't come from Sacramento yet. The insurance company will speak with the manufacturers and we'll go from there," he said. "We're a small district with a small budget and this is an important piece. Sometimes the manufacturers will give you a break."

The engine, a Pierce Firehawk built in 1998, burned after high-centering Saturday during the fire. The two firefighters operating the engine escaped without injury, but the vehicle was a total loss. Firefighters held the blaze to 30 acres and no structures were lost.

Versatile enough to handle both brush and structure fires, the engine was based at Station 34 at Silver City.

"The dual role is very important," Gillenwater said. "But we've replaced the engine with a reserve unit. We still have a full complement of engines, but the replacement engine isn't as modern or sophisticated. If you could drive either a 2003 Lexus or the car you had in college, which would you choose?"

Gillenwater expects to find out if the engine can be replaced in the next two to three weeks. In the meantime, both East Fork and Storey fire districts offered replacement engines.

"It's very nice that our neighbors reached out to make sure we're OK," Gillenwater said. "In the long term we may take them up on it, but right now we're looking to purchase a new engine."