By Logan Wells, News Director | Logan@kymnradio.net
The Northfield City Council heard a report last week on the Northfield Area Fire & Rescue Services Budget. Fire Chief Tom Nelson stated that the department’s operations budget has been well “dialed in” over the last several years and only a small increase is needed. Nelson noted that the bigger difficulty was regarding the NAFRS capital and equipment budget:
“The whole fire world/industry is up in arms about consolidation, basically, and in my words the antitrust. It takes so long and it costs so much money, and there’s so few people that you can buy them from.” – Tom Nelson, Northfield Area Fire Chief at the 7/15/2025 City Council Work Session Meeting
Nelson cited a new pumper Fire Truck that was purchased in the last year that cost just over a million dollars and a new mini-pumper truck that will come out this year and is set to cost $525,000.
Learn More:
Article (2/4/2025): Northfield Fire Department Set to Receive a New Fire Truck This Month – Read Here
Meeting Documents: Review the fire department’s cost breakdown and Capital Equipment Plan here
Nelson stated that NAFRS was taking a few steps to address the rising costs of new fire trucks, primarily by working to extend the life of each vehicle:
“One number that was a lightning rod, replace that aerial bucket truck that goes out a handful of times a year. But we still need that for readiness for various occupancies. We are looking at someone from the manufacturer coming in to give us an estimate. On how much it would cost to replace, like, hydraulic hoses, to you know, all these different things that move and wear out, let’s squeeze another 10 years out of that piece of equipment .” – Tom Nelson, Northfield Area Fire Chief at the 7/15/2025 City Council Work Session Meeting
Will keep you posted about the fire department’s budget and other questions raised about their budget in future newscasts.
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