Dan Hinshaw: There’s a reason Modesto wants Pierce Fire Apparatus

Re “Why not get local firetrucks?” (Letters, Feb. 19): Regarding the purchasing of local fire trucks, Rosenbauer fire apparatus are not built locally. Burton’s Fire has one salesmen and does the warranty service for them. They actually employ very few area workers. Before Burton’s serviced Rosenbauer they were contracted by Pierce Fire Apparatus.

The Modesto Fire Department has been purchasing Pierce fire engines since 1989. The entire fleet is Pierce. there are many reasons to continue purchasing Pierce. The stocking of parts, trained in servicing the fleet, and the warranty service is now done in Sacramento. Pierce is the No. 1 seller of fire apparatus in the U.S. and I’d invite you to look in every fire department in Stanislaus County; you’ll find a Pierce fire engines totaling in the 50s, but you will find fewer than five Rosenbauers.

There’s a reason Pierce is No. 1; they build some of the finest fire apparatus in the U.S.

This story was originally published February 22, 2016 at 5:30 PM with the headline "Dan Hinshaw: There’s a reason Modesto wants Pierce Fire Apparatus."