Fire Chief Mike Gray said a 20-year fire protection plan is flexible enough to change with Gautier's growing needs, including service for 8,000 residents added during annexation in 2002.
"It's dynamic. You can keep adding to it as you go," he said. "It's based on inflation rate of vehicles and financing, sale of old trucks, and other variations."
The capital improvement plan includes replacement of two custom pumpers bought in 1987, both of which will lose the 20-year state fire rating in 2007. The City Council recently approved a bid of $289,868 by Pro-fire Equipment Co. for a new truck.
"We are replacing one this year and we are going to replace one in 2007," Gray said. "And then we have a 1994 that was a commercial pumper. In 2009, we have to replace it."
The rescue truck also must be replaced in 2009. There are four pumpers, a brush fire truck, backup rescue truck, and 30 employees.
Gray said the 2005 and 2007 trucks would be paid for from $400,000 accumulated from the former Gautier Utility District and fire insurance rebates.
The stations will remain at three with a new one built near the soccer fields and six firefighters added.
