The Williston (VT) Fire Department plans to put into service two new apparatus this weekend, reports willistonobserver.com.

However, the department lacks the staff to consistently operate the new equipment, the report says. Voters in 2019 approved taking on $1.4 million of debt for the purchase; after some delays they arrived at the Talcott Road station in October.

At the time of their arrival, according to the report, the department received a staffing needs report it commissioned last fall. It presented a grim reality of the department’s ability to provide fire and emergency medical coverage.

The report, completed by CA-based AP Triton, recommended an immediate increase of nine career firefighters, and, over a five-year period, for nearly 40 new firefighters. Those moves would increase the overall budget by roughly $2.5 million annually, the report says.

The department currently has between three and four firefighters on-duty 24/7, which has been par for the course over recent years. However, the report notes that there has been a drop in on-call firefighters; the department has gone from about 30 on-call firefighters in 2016 to eight now.

The new engine has a rear-mounted, 100-foot ladder and enough removable ground ladders for nine additional firefighters; its predecessor had a mid-mounted 95-foot ladder with a bucket, the report says. It also carries 500 gallons of water, 200 more than the old apparatus. The other new apparatus is a water tanker. It can carry 1,500 gallons of water.

In total, the fire department has four fire trucks, two ambulances, and a utility pickup truck, the report says.

The Nutter Fort (WV) Fire Department recently took delivery of its new $1 million aerial truck.

The apparatus’ ladder can reach 107 feet, while its predecessor, which required expensive repairs, topped out at 50 feet.

Crews will begin training on the apparatus in the coming weeks.

Officials say the truck was paid for with community donations and fundraising.

Jonesville (MI) city council recently approved spending $238,000 to purchase a 2021 Fouts 4 Initial Attack mini-pumper, reports hillsdale.net.

The apparatus sits on a F550 chassis and has a 1,500-gallon-per-minute pump with a 285-gallon tank, the report says. It will be paid for with money from the department’s equipment fund.

Officials say the apparatus will primarily be used as a first response unit for all vehicle crashes—and for medical assists and mutual aid calls—and come with extrication tools.

The department says it is purchasing a demo model, which means it could take delivery in as little as two weeks.

Fouts 4’s predecessor will either be sold or scrapped.

The Rochester (NH) Fire Department recently showed off its new rescue truck during a city council meeting, reports wmur.com.

Rescue 8 officially went into service last month, the report says.

Related: Video: Rochester (NH) Firefighters Receive 3rd Toyne Pumper

Officials say the apparatus can get to just about any situation, and it carries all necessary equipment, such as extrication tools, spreaders, and the like.

More info and pics can be found here.

A 2012 Billerica (MA) Fire Department ladder truck is out of commission after it struck the Mount Pleasant Street bridge Tuesday morning, reports wickedlocal.com.

A department member was transporting the apparatus back from Lowell around 9 a.m. following repairs when the accident happened, the report says.

There were no passengers or injuries, but the truck’s ladder was totaled—though the apparatus is otherwise operational. It’ll be sent to Attleborough for repairs, officials say.

Related:
New Billerica (MA) Fire Station Almost Complete

The bridge, which has been a bone of contention with regards to vehicles getting trapped or damaged, nor the MBTA train line that sits on it were damaged.

Officials say the driver, who was apologetic about the incident, was drug-tested, as is standard protocol for accidents on the job.

The department says it will be relying on mutual aid from other departments until the ladder is repaired.