The Craig Rural Fire Prot-ection District Board unanimously approved to start looking for bids to replace a cab and chasse on a previously retired water tanker.

Craig Fire/Rescue Chief Chris Nichols made a presentation to the Colorado Department of Local Affairs in Steamboat.

DOLA preliminarily ap–proved a grant for $60,000 under the condition that it was matched with $60,000 from the fire district’s funds.

The board mandated leaving the bidding process open for 40 days.

The tanker originally was retired in 2003, when, on route to a structure fire, it had a major malfunction.

Nichols said they retired the tanker because it would have been more expensive to fix than the truck was worth.

Although the tanker was useless for two years, Nichols said they were able to salvage the body and tank of the old tanker.

Along with the new cab and chasse, the tanker will get new lights, sirens and radio.

When all the repairs are done, the tanker will comply with the National Fire Protection Agency rules, Nichols said.

With the tanker fixed, Nichols said residents outside the city will really benefit because the of the flexibility the tanker will provide.

Because there are no fire hydrants outside of the city, Craig Fire/Rescue usually has to shuttle water back and forth. With the new truck, this won’t be as big of a problem.

“We’ll be able to shuttle and arrive on seen with about 9,000 gallons of water,” he said. “That almost doubles what we have now.”

Johnson said the budget to fix the truck is $120,000 and this includes all labor and bringing the tanker up to regulations.

Although he was unsure of when the tanker would be done, he said he would expect all of the parts in within 180 days.