Ridgway To Purchase New Vengeant Blizzard Mini Pumper

The Ridgway Borough, and The Ridgway Fire Department have agreed to purchase a new Vengeant Blizzard mini pumper from Glick Fire Equipment. The new rig will replace a 1991 Engine that was recently taken out of service. With the help of state representative Mike Armanini and State Senator Chris Dush, the Borough was able to secure an LSA grant through DECD that will cover nearly 50% of the nearly ½ million dollar price tag. The remainder will be funded by the Fire Department’s capital reserve fund at the borough and with monies secured through the Ridgway Fire Department’s fund raising activities.

This will be the first new pumper acquired by the department since 2017. The Ridgway Fire Department has a coverage area of approximately 156 square miles, much of which is in rural areas. The department also has a number of narrow streets in the borough that can be tough to navigate with parked vehicles, especially in the winter. Going with a mini pumper offers the department more flexibility when it comes to getting into difficult locations. For over a year, the Fire Department had a truck committee that interviewed different manufacturers and considered different types of pumpers. Ultimately, this group settled on the Vengeant Blizzard. Currently delivery is targeted for early 2028. Veangeant Manufacturing is a Pennsylvania based company in Annville, Pennsylvania. The attached drawing is a generic depiction of what the new rig will look like, and once the specific drawing is completed we will share it.

Left to right Ridgway Borough Mayor Ray Imhof. Ridgway Borough Manager Michael Handley. Ridgway Fire Chief Jeff Yeager, Ridgway Deputy Chief Steve Neureiter, Glick Representative Rusty Shriner, Outgoing Fire Department Treasurer Dave Parsons. Ridgway Assistant Chief John Wygant.