Restructuring the fire fleet will save the city of Northwood money and make the department more efficient, according to the fire chief.

Joel Whitmore laid out a long-term plan for the department, focusing on vehicles, at city council’s safety committee meeting Thursday.

“Apparatus needs? That’s what the main meat and potatoes of this conversation is tonight. Do we need to maintain the current fleet — all the 11 firefighting, EMS apparatuses we have right now?” he said.

Detailed vehicle planning, looking years ahead, is needed because it takes so long to receive delivery of a fire truck or ambulance, and they are very expensive, Chief Whitmore said.

He suggested selling the city’s 2009 ladder truck, known as Tower 83. The aerial truck is not used often, responding to 14 calls so far thi

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