It was recently mentioned that Foley is the fastest growing city in Baldwin County. Due to the rapid expansion the Foley Fire Department has to prepare for circumstances that come with the growth.

Foley city officials have announced plans to increase fire protection with the addition of new trucks and equipment to provide better service to the growing city. The Foley Fire Department has ordered a new pumper truck that is expected to be delivered by September, and the city has approved plans to purchase a new ladder truck that could arrive as early as 2025.

According to Foley Fire Chief Joey Darby, the department has budgeted $100,000 for the equipment needed for the new pumper truck, which will depend on the bid submissions received. The city council has approved the purchase of the equipment to have it ready when the new unit is delivered.

Darby explained that the prices and availability of some equipment have improved recently, but the cost of the Foley truck will depend on the specifications that are being drawn up. He added that ladder trucks can cost about $1 million.

The council also approved the purchase of a new ladder truck to serve the south side of the city, where the demand for fire protection has increased significantly due to residential and commercial growth. Darby said the additional unit is necessary to meet the demands of the growing city.

In addition to improving fire protection, the purchase of a second ladder truck could also help reduce insurance rates for Foley property owners and improve the city's rating with the Insurance Service Organization.

Darby said that supply chain issues have delayed the acquisition of new fire trucks by as much as four years, resulting in higher costs as the prices of the trucks increase each year. However, the city can order a truck through North American Fire Equipment Company in Decatur that could be received as early as 2025, which will help reduce costs by approximately $100,000 to $120,000.

Foley City Administrator Mike Thompson said the new deal will help the city acquire the vehicle much earlier than any other option, as the capital plan for 2024 includes the purchase of the new truck. Without this deal, the city would have to wait until 2026 or 2027 to fulfill the 2024 capital plan.

Overall, the addition of new trucks and equipment will help improve the delivery time for fire protection services and better serve the growing community of Foley.