By Jordyn Pair
mlive.com
YPSILANTI TOWNSHIP, Mich. — With the ring of a front-bumper bell and the spray of a hose, the newest firetruck for Ypsilanti Township is officially commissioned.
Steve Densmore, chief of the township’s fire department, spoke a blessing over the new fire truck before crews pushed it into the department’s station at 222 S. Ford Blvd. in Ypsilanti Township. After a quick spray of water, the truck was officially washed of any bad luck and ready for service.
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The 77-foot ladder truck came with a $1.5 million price tag, but brings plenty of benefits to the township, Densmore said.
“We don’t take it for granted,” Densmore said, adding he’s grateful for support from township officials.
The truck is narrow enough to navigate township streets while still reaching up to around five or six stories on a building, Densmore said. The department would need assistance from other surrounding fire departments in the event of a high-rise fire, although the combined effort would be much quicker.
“If we had people trapped up on the eighth or ninth floor, we can deploy their resources to them, and we can take care of the lower ones simultaneously,” he said.
It’s also safer for firefighters who may need to climb the ladder during the winter, since the ladder – attached to the truck – can’t slip on snow or ice. Firefighters will also be able to use it to quickly exit a building, if needed.
The new truck replaces the single-purpose pump truck and can hold up to 480 gallons in its water tank. It can pump up to 2,000 gallons per minute, per the manufacturer.
“If I have a fire truck here go down for maintenance reasons, this can fit right into its place, so we never miss a beat,” Densmore said.
The truck, a 2026 Spartan Smeal, also comes with all the bells and whistles – literally. The front of the truck sports a large bell, one of four alarm devices on the truck’s front end. Along with more traditional alarms, crews can also ring the bell to help differentiate the truck from other emergency vehicles.
The newest addition brings the total number of fire engines to seven, Densmore said.
“We’re a pretty busy department,” he said. “This will definitely get used.”
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