Hoquiam Fire Department Seeks New Truck, May Propose Levy

Hoquiam, WA - The Hoquiam Fire Department is hoping a new ladder truck to replace their failing Snorkel-truck will keep city business insurance down. Fire Chief Ray Pumphrey tells KBKW "Our aerial apparatus, which we call our snorkel, is currently out of service, we took it out about three weeks ago. Right now we don't know if we're going to repair it or just leave it out of service." The Department plans to propose a 10 year levee that would cost the taxpayers about 28 cents per one-thousand dollars to replace the 32 year old truck. Pumphrey said if the city goes to long without the ability to respond to tall structure fires, a review may change the department's rating.. affecting business owner's insurance rates.

(Click the story title to hear Pumphrey's February 14th interview on Coffee Talk with Doug McDowell)