The Clinton Fire Department will soon be taking the next steps in getting their new fire truck.

The Clinton City Council unanimously approved the purchase of a new mid-mount platform aerial truck in December of last year. The purchase came about after a training incident involving contact with power lines took the former ladder aerial truck out of service. Four fire fighters from the department are scheduled later next week to take a trip to Pierce Manufacturing in Aurora, where the truck is being put together. Clinton Fire Chief Shawn Milton says the truck will be partially assembled, the fire fighters will just approve that everything is the way they want it on the truck.

[audio:clintonfiretruck1.mp3]A Word From Chief Milton[/audio]

The truck was originally supposed to be delivered this month, however that has been moved to mid-September. Chief Milton notes once the truck has been delivered, they still will not be able use it because training on the truck will have to take place. Milton says mid-October is a rough estimate of when the truck could begin service.

[audio:clintonfiretruck2.mp3]A Word From Chief Milton[/audio]

Chief Milton says once the training conducted by Pierce has been conducted, the department will put into effect a guideline for the all the drivers stating they have to have a certain amount of driving time to be able to drive it. Those driving hours will be a year-to-year basis.

Chief Milton is hopeful the buildings on the 200th block of East Washington street will still be up, as the City is looking to bring those buildings down before the winter. Milton says those buildings provide excellent spots for training exercises for the department.

[audio:clintonfiretruck3.mp3]A Word From Chief Milton[/audio]

Clinton's former ladder truck had served the fire department for 27-years.  The city has mutual aid contracts in place with both the Hickory Point and Lincoln Fire Departments should an aerial truck be needed. The purchase came about after a training incident involving contact with power lines took the former ladder aerial truck out of service. The purchase for the truck from Pierce Manufacturing was a cost of just over 940-thousand dollars which is the largest purchase ever made for the fire department.