Elko County Fire Board approves $30,000 purchase of 1996 Type 3 brush truck from North Lake Tahoe

The Elko County Board of Fire Commissioners approved the purchase of a 1996 Type 3 brush truck from the North Lake Tahoe Fire Protection District for $30,000 on July 2. The chief said the unit will supplement rural areas and serve as relief apparatus.

“$30,000 as compared to $550 to $600,000 is a pretty good deal,” Fire Chief Matt Peterson said, explaining the apparatus has low miles, new tires and low hours. Peterson said the purchase will be funded from the district’s fiscal year 2025 capital equipment budget, though he later noted the cost will come from the tools and supply budget line.

A public commenter urged the board to revisit mileage- or age-based replacement standards for county emergency vehicles, saying a 1996 unit that is still functional may be retired because a blanket age threshold is in policy language. The board approved the purchase by voice vote; no roll-call breakdown was recorded in the transcript.