Arley Fire gets new brush truck

ARLEY - Also known as a wildland fire truck, a brush truck aids firefighters in beating down wildfires, along with other uses such as wrecks. At the Arley town meeting, Monday, June 1, Fire Chief James Rickett notified the town council the fire department has purchased a newer model brush truck. The one currently in operation is a 1960s model according to Rickett. The new truck is a 2008 Ford F-150 four-wheel drive with 60,000 miles on it. It was purchased for $8,500 at a state sale, and lights and signage will be installed on the truck in the near future.
“We’re still waiting on the state to give us a title,” Rickett added about the truck. “We already have the insurance on it. The lights, siren and radio will be added in about two weeks.”
Additionally, Ordinance No. 2020-01 was discussed at the meeting and to be voted on at the next town meeting. This ordinance allows for the police of Arley to tow “any vehicle which he has reasonable cause to believe to be lost, stolen or abandoned; or any vehicle which is, or is likely to become, an obstruction on a street or to be without proper protection...or any vehicle which has remained parked at a place, in a manner or for a length of time which is unlawful...” The ordinance goes on to say those vehicles authorized to be towed also include the ones found to contain contraband, or if it is parked illegally in a fire lane, the fire chief or representative shall have the authority of towing. The charge for storing an impounded vehicle is $25 per day or fraction thereof.
“We don’t tow a lot of vehicles, but there are some circumstances we will,” Police Chief Jerry Cummings said.
For the month of May, the police in Arley logged 3,558 miles on their vehicles with a cost of $435 and had 24 cases during the month.