The Indian River Volunteer Fire Company (Indian River) has finalized its multi-year apparatus update pledge by replacing aging vehicles in its fleet. The initiative included procuring new equipment and transferring (selling) retired vehicles to other fire departments.ll

Recent milestones include:

• Squad 80 (September 2025): Indian River completed its latest apparatus transition in September 2025 with the delivery of a new Pierce Saber engine, which will operate out of the Long Neck facility.

• Brush 80 (July 2025): A new brush truck, also part of the plan, was delivered in July 2025 and will operate out of the Long Neck facility.

• Engine 80 (April 2024): A new Pierce Saber pumper for the Long Neck facility was ordered and received in 2024 as part of the initiative.

Retiring old equipment

To make way for the new vehicles, the fire company has sold and transferred its older apparatus:

• Engine #80-1: In September 2025, Indian River sold its retired 2001 Spartan 4-Guys pumper to the Coaling Fire Protection District in Alabama.

• Brush 80-0: In August 2025, Indian River sold its retired 1999 Ford F350 Brush truck to the Milton Fire Department in Delaware.

• Engine #80-3:  In October, 2024, Indian River sold its retired 2007 Spartan 4-Guys Custom pumper to the Macon County Fire Department In Georgia.

The decision to upgrade the fleet was made in 2023. The total anticipated cost for the two new Pierce Saber pumpers and the new brush truck was an estimated $2 million. The apparatus initiative is one of several operational upgrades, which included replacing firefighter personal protective equipment (PPE), updating extrication tools, and replacing automated external defibrillators (AEDs).  Two of these initiatives have been completed as well.

Indian River continues to publicly acknowledge and thank the community for its ongoing financial support, particularly in conjunction with its annual fund drive. As a 100% volunteer organization, the Indian River relies heavily on community collaboration, donations and fundraising events to meet its operational and equipment objectives.

Without you, our community partners, none of these objectives would have been possible. 

Thank you for your support.