Sept. 30--The Detroit Fire Department just got a new fire truck -- for $1.
Joseph Rippolone, a classic vehicle collector from Harrison Township, sold the 1983 fire truck.
The city announced the new addition Thursday.
Rippolone bought the truck, which was part of the fleet in Getzville, N.Y., a few years back.
Rippolone -- who is in the plumbing business, owns a drain cleaning company and an auto repair shop and has dabbled in patents for plumbing tools -- said he invested between $150,000 and $200,000 in professional renovations on the truck. He then offered it up for use in fund-raisers and to ferry teens to prom.
Earlier this month, the department was criticized when the first rig to respond to a house fire where a child was trapped was a small pumper truck that was out of commission for pumping water and was just used to transport firefighters to the scene.
Officials said an engine and ladder truck arrived shortly after the small rig. The 3-year-old girl rescued in the blaze later died from smoke inhalation.
Executive Fire Commissioner Donald Austin said last week that the small pumper is back in operation.
The 1983 truck has only 23,000 original miles on the engine, a spokesman for Mayor Dave Bing said.
Rippolone said he thought the truck could find a new purpose.
"There's a possibility," Rippolone said, "it could save lives."
Contact Gina Damron: 313-223-4526 or [email protected]
