OTTUMWA — A few months from now, Ottumwa Fire Department’s two mini-trucks will go out on numerous calls and the big firetrucks won’t.

The Ottumwa City Council this week unanimously approved spending $312,452 for two mini-rescue trucks from Karl Chevrolet in Ankeny.

Deputy Fire Chief Mike Jones said the trucks will be used in place of the larger main pumper trucks for emergency medical calls, smoke-complaint calls, grass fires and other service-type calls that don’t require a larger pumper or two pumpers.

“These trucks should help with fuel use and maintenance costs,” he said.

City Administrator Joe Helfenberger said repairs for Engines 101, 102 and 103 from 2006-09 totaled $108,000. He estimated the trucks would save the department $23,000 in fuel.

The mini-trucks will have four-wheel drive, which will enable them to get around in winter without chains, according to Jones.

“Also, the trucks will go through alleys, wooded areas and other tight [places] the larger trucks can’t get through easily or without damage,” he said.

The mini-trucks will have a pump and 100-gallon water tank with a 10-gallon class A foam system on them to make the 100 gallons of water go farther if needed.

“These trucks are multi-purpose type vehicles and we’ll be able to make over 90 percent of our calls with them,” he added.

Jones also noted the trucks will be purchased from the $340,000 budgeted for a larger pumper truck. In September the fire department sent out four bid packets to different manufacturers.

Only one packet came back and the bid was $339,244. Jones said his department considered the bid too high so the staff “researched the state contract and received the lower bid from Karl Chevrolet.”

Mayor Dale Uehling asked Jones if his department would send the mini-trucks to vehicle accidents.

Jones said a “larger truck goes to those” calls.

Councilman Gordon Aistrope asked about the type of fuel used by the mini-trucks and Jones verified the new ones use diesel.

“The mini-trucks are four-wheel drive and are smaller so response time won’t be as long,” Councilman Keith Caviness said.