Station 80 NFD’s Ladder 861 on its way to Hurricane.

News that the Nitro Fire Department had sold its 75-ft ladder truck to the City of Hurricane was reported by WOWK. News of the purchase was puzzling to many because the subject of a ladder truck need has not been a subject of discussion at recent Hurricane city council meetings.

The unexpected purchase was made possible because Hurricane Fire & Rescue had money in an account reserved for equipment purchase — enough to meet the $47,000 fair market value of NFD’s 1997 ladder truck. Upon learning that the truck would be put up for auction, Hurricane Fire Chief Paul Niedbalski made a fair market offer and Nitro accepted it.

Niedbalski said that the 75-foot ladder will allow HFD to fight fires more effectively. “With the extra 10 feet, we can get closer to a blaze and better able to target it. The truck has features that will allow us to do all that we presently do in a more effective manner,” he said. The truck is expected to be ready for a public unveiling soon.