ARANSAS PASS, Texas — A new addition to the Aransas Pass Fire Department is not only expanding its fleet, but it will help the local economy grow.
A new $1.4 million fire truck will be the first of its kind for the Aransas Pass Fire Department.
"The new ladder truck is a purpose-built truck, so it's for severe duty,” said Aransas Pass Fire Chief Nathan Kelley. “The truck behind me was meant to last about 15 years, and that's where we're on it right now."
The ladder -- reaching 100-feet high – also will allow Aransas Pass to achieve other goals.
"We were actually limiting economical growth because we wouldn't allow any structure to come in that was over three stories,” he said. “And we were really limiting that because we didn't have a ladder to access the buildings."
After receiving the truck, developers in Aransas Pass will be able to build apartments, businesses, and hotels taller than three stories.
The new fire truck is also coming with brand-new gear for the firefighters, who have been using the same equipment for the last 15 years.
"That includes new hoses, axes, all the rescue gear that we would need to go out and do rescues if we needed to," Kelley said.
The ladder truck is scheduled to arrive in Aransas Pass sometime in April next year.
