The City of Oberlin, Ohio, is purchasing three hybrid hydraulic refuse and recycling trucks to replace trucks destroyed in a February fire in the refuse and recycling building.

Parker Hannifin, the company providing the trucks, says the city is the first in the state to purchase the hydraulic hybrid vehicles, the News-Herald reported.

The total cost of the equipment is just under $1.2 million, some of which is paid for with grant funding. Two conventional replacement trucks were ordered shortly after the fire.

In a memo to the City Council, Public Works Director Jeff Baumann said a patrol officer refueling his vehicle at midnight saw smoke coming from the building, alerting authorites to the fire. The value of the loss of the six recycling/refuse vehicles is $365,200.

The city insured the vehicles with a $5,000 deductible and agreed to a settlement amount of $360,200. The city evaluated various other alternative technologies for its fleet vehicles, including biodiesel, compressed natural gas (CNG), and electric engines.