FROM ADA ICON - There’s a new truck coming to Ada next week. You’ll probably hear it as it comes into town.

Just ask Jay Epley, Ada-Liberty Township fire chief, about it. He says it’s a unique vehicle.

Thanks to the passage of a 1-mill fire levy on the November 2018 local ballot,  the local department will be able to retire its 1990 Big Mack Attack pumper.

It’s replacement is a $700,000, 2,500 gallon pumper-tanker, fully computerized. Epley and two other members of the department, Brent Dirmeyer and Andy Badertscher will be on their way to Nebraska on Sunday where the truck is ready for pick up.

“We’ll drive it back to Ada,” said Epley. “It’s top speed is 55 miles per hour, so it could be a 16-to-18 hour trip.”

The vehicle is anticipated to arrive in Ada on the evening of Dec. 15, although it won’t be ready for immediate service.

“We plan to do several days of driver training around town,” Epley said.

The six-passenger vehicle is on a Smeal body and a Spartan chassis, built in Snyder, Nebraska. Ordinarily it would take about 12 months from placing an order to receiving a new truck.

Epley said that the covid-19 pandemic delayed construction time. It was originally anticipated for delivery in September.

While the 1-mill levy enabled the department to purchase the vehicle, Epley said that other financial contributors include Ohio Northern University and the Orange Township trustees.

The new vehicle replaces a 1990 Mack, also a 2,500-gallon pumper. The Ada-Liberty Township Fire Department has seven vehicles.