BOLIVAR — Bolivar Volunteer firefighters and residents were able to participate in the push in Saturday, christening the 2021 Pierce Ascendant 109 (quint) fire engine/ladder truck into the fire station bay and deemed it ready for service.

The new fire engine and combined aerial truck is 32 feet longer and the ladder is 107-feet in length. The ladder on the truck can descend in just a few minutes. The cost of the truck is $1,070,821 and $500,000 was applied for a down payment from the Bolivar Fire Department and the trustees fire levy fund. The township worked through Freedom Financial to obtain the loan through the bank

Lawrence Township Trustees obtained the loan. The new truck, as well as a new ambulance that was recently purchased, will be paid in full in three years prior to the renewal of the township fire levy.

The fire engine arrived about a month ago, however certain items had to be added. Firefighters had several weeks of training to learn how to operate the truck.

Lt. Matt Seward said if the department would have ordered a new truck it would have taken over two years to receive at a cost of about $1.3 million.

The quint replaces a 1993 Pierce 75-foot aerial truck, which was sold to Brewster Volunteer Fire Department, and a 1998 Pierce fire engine that will probably be sold in the fall.

The new fire engine will be used in all structure fires and is smaller than the original aerial truck for easier maneuvering.

Shawn Lynch has served as Bolivar fire chief for 12 years. There are 35 part-time firefighters, paramedics and emergency medical technicians on staff. Rick Wigfield is assistant fire chief. The fire department is staffed 24-hours a day, seven days a week. Lynch is a full-time employee and Roger Bethel is also a full-time employee.

The fire department has a brush truck, boat, utility pickup, the chief’s vehicle, three ambulances (only two ambulances are used for runs and the third is a backup. There is also a rescue engine and tanker in the fleet.