The Cleveland Fire Department will replace a fire engine involved in a single vehicle accident April 30th. Three firefighters received minor injuries in the crash while responding to a fire alarm call. The fire truck was totaled in the crash.
Fire Chief Chris Ellington received approval from Johnston County Commissioners to borrow $593,574 for a new 2020 Pierce Enforcer Custom pumper fire truck. Civic Federal Credit Union in Raleigh was the lowest bidder on a 10 year loan at 2.6 percent. Freedom Financial in Yorktown, VA had submitted a bid of 2.97 percent.
Chief Ellington said the wrecked fire truck was paid for. Proceeds of the insurance settlement were used to add sleeping quarters onto Station 1 and to pay for parking lot 
improvements at Station 2. There was also enough money left over from the insurance settlement to pay off the remaining loan balance on another Cleveland fire truck.
Commissioner Chairman Ted Godwin asked Chief Ellington who made the decision to allocate the insurance proceeds. Ellington said the decision was made by the fire department board of directors.
Commissioner Tony Braswell told Chief Ellington he would like to see future bids solicited from financial institutions with locations in Johnston County. Braswell said Civic Federal Credit doesn’t pay any taxes here and he would like to see banks that employ local residents and support the local economy have a chance to bid on the loans.
The new Cleveland fire truck will arrive in about 11 months. A spare Cleveland fire engine is being used until the new truck arrives.
