Page Assistant Fire Chief Joe Noonchester drove the new, million-dollar Pierce Pumper from Flagstaff to Page. 

“There's quite a few mechanical advantages, advances I should say, that these brand-new engines have a 10-year-old engine wouldn't have,” Noonchester told the Chronicle. “As far as efficiency on the road, the emissions have changed drastically, so it puts out very little. Even though it is a diesel, it's extremely clean. It has better diagnostics for the engine itself and for the pump. It's safer. There’s a lot of other computer safeguards that keep our people safe in the public.”

The nearly 20-year-old truck Engine 10 replaces will remain available when needed.

“The way that we take care of our machines here, we can get 20 years out of them,” Noonchester said.

“When you buy them from the manufacturer, they come with a few things, but everything else comes from the department to outfit it. Like all the hose belongs to the city. Some of the other tools and equipment we're using from other apparatus for this, and then we're buying some new things as well.

“The department is also getting an upgraded radio system. That's all brand-new, upgraded stuff. This engine has an intercom system, so all of our firefighters will wear a headset in the apparatus that protects their hearing, and also allows them to communicate not only amongst themselves but with our dispatcher.”

The new engine has other features that make firefighting more efficient, like a central control panel on the side of the truck to operate equipment. Firefighters can do more without climbing around on top of the truck.

The City of Page began putting money aside for Engine 10 about three years ago. City Manager Darren Coldwell told the Chronicle the CIP (Capital Improvement Plan) was something new for Page because, until recently, the city wasn’t financially able to do it. 

“We're picking an item and we're putting money away,” Coldwell said. “That was a three-year program. They have started putting money away now for another new fire truck, a platform truck. They put away $400,000 this year, so hopefully within three years they'll be able to buy it. They'll do the same thing as they did with this one. They put money away for new fire trucks.”

To celebrate, Page Fire Department held a New Engine 10 Ceremony July 3 at the Public Safety Building.