KSVFD modernizing fleet, expanding rescue capabilities to better serve community

The Kingston Springs Fire Department is moving forward with a major fire apparatus refurbishment project designed to modernize two aging frontline engines while avoiding the steep cost of purchasing new trucks.

According to Fire Chief Jeremy Vaughan, the department began evaluating the condition of its fleet roughly two years ago after concerns grew over the age and safety standards of several apparatus currently in service.

The department’s two primary engines — known internally as “The Twins” — were custom-built for Kingston Springs in 2002 and are now 24 years old. Vaughan said replacing the trucks entirely would have cost more than $1 million per engine, with estimated delivery times stretching three to four years.

Instead, the department opted for a full refurbishment project that upgrades the existing trucks to modern safety standards while extending their service life by another decade or more.

“We began researching refurbishment options and discovered we could significantly extend the service life of our current apparatus while upgrading them to modern safety standards at a fraction of the cost,” Vaughan said in a press release.

The National Fire Protection Association recommends frontline emergency vehicles move to reserve status after 20 years and either be retired or fully refurbished by 25 years due to advances in firefighter safety technology.

Department officials said those changes include updated seating systems, seatbelts, emergency lighting, reflective striping, traction systems, hearing protection and onboard camera equipment.

The department initially projected refurbishment costs around $350,000 per truck before soliciting bids from more than 25 companies nationwide. Final bids ranged from nearly $800,000 per truck from a Nevada company to roughly $436,000 from Nashville-based Safe Industries.

After negotiations with Safe Industries, Kingston Springs reduced the refurbishment cost to approximately $314,222 per truck. Vaughan said the department also strategically purchased loose equipment separately through annual operating budgets, reducing additional equipment costs to about $98,000 per engine.

The final project cost is expected to total roughly $825,000.

“This project allows us to modernize critical emergency equipment, improve firefighter safety and maximize taxpayer dollars,” Vaughan said. “By refurbishing these apparatus instead of replacing them outright, we are extending their service life by another decade or more while avoiding multi-million-dollar replacement costs.”

In addition to the apparatus upgrades, Vaughan said the department is also rebuilding its high-angle rescue capabilities — a specialized rope rescue operation used for incidents involving cliffs, steep terrain and inaccessible trail areas around Kingston Springs and the Harpeth River region.

“We used to do quite a bit in the early 2000s, but we’re starting to get more now,” Vaughan said. “People are veering off trails, falling, getting injured or ending up in places they can’t get out of.”

The department recently spent roughly $11,000 on rope rescue equipment and plans to host additional training classes locally rather than relying on outside departments for technical rescues.

Vaughan, who joined the department during his senior year of high school in 1999, said the investments reflect Kingston Springs’ continued growth and the increasing demands placed on emergency responders.