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Posted: Aug 31, 2016

Lake George Fire Chief States Need For New Fire Apparatus

Officials of Lake George Fire Dept. have asked the village board to buy a new fire truck with a 100-foot ladder - apparatus that costs nearly $1 million - and the municipal leaders are now considering the request. 
In a presentation to board members Aug. 15, Lake George Fire Chief Jason Berry described how the village’s present 1995 aerial tower fire truck with a 70-foot ladder had deteriorated, and a new one with a taller reach was needed.

Berry requested that the board authorize purchase of a current model that he and other fire department officers recommend: a demonstrator aerial truck that costs $955,000, or about $145,000 less than the price of a new model. The demonstrator, however, is outfitted with hoses and other firefighting equipment, unlike the factory-fresh models.

Berry detailed the deteriorated condition of the department’s 1995 tower truck, which has been out of service for about six weeks.

“There are stress fractures in its superstructure, it’s aerial lift cradle needs repair, and its fly boom needs replacement,” Berry said. “The ladder bucks and sags when fully extended, the pump input shaft leaks terribly, and the undercarriage is very rusty.”

He predicted that repairing the village’s tower truck to get it back in service would cost at least $32,000 to $41,000. He said that if it were repaired, the village’s investment in rehabilitating it would exceed $84,000.

He estimated that the 1995 truck, with minimal repairs, would have a trade-in value of $40,000 to $50,000 — but in its present condition, would garner only $10,000.

“Dumping more money into the current aerial truck would be pointless,” Berry said.

He urged that the village take action as soon as possible, as this new demonstrator truck might be sold soon. Board members talked about how while a public vote through a permissive referendum might be required for such a purchase, it could perhaps be acquired sooner through a resolution citing an emergency.

Village Mayor Robert Blais said such a procedure might delay or prevent bonding the vehicle. “Ideally, we’d put the truck out to bid,” he said. “We just bought two fire trucks last year.” Berry replied that a lease-purchase agreement might circumvent the need for a permissive referendum.

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Posted: Aug 31, 2016

Endwell (NY) Purchases New Heavy Duty Fire Apparatus

The Endwell Fire Department has purchased a new truck to help them keep people safe. The 2016 Pierce Velocity Heavy Duty Rescue truck arrived at the department two days ago. It was designed by the Pierce company in Wisconsin with the help of Endwell firefighters.
Endwell Fire Chief Joe Shoemaker says the old truck was just too crammed.

"We'd get a new piece of equipment and say 'well, what are we going to take off of the truck in order to put this piece of equipment onto the truck?' This allows us to carry everything we had plus our current cache of equipment, along with some room to grow in the future," he said.

Shoemaker says the new truck replaces a 1994 model.

The Heavy Duty Rescue Truck was called to its first accident Wednesday.

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Posted: Aug 31, 2016

Pompton Lakes (NJ) Hosting Wetdown Party

The community is invited to a party at the Pompton Lakes Fire Department (PLFD) firehouse to celebrate the arrival of a new 2016 Pierce pumper truck on Saturday, Sept. 10. Chief Ron Fusaro said the new truck replaces a 1989 pumper. "After so many years they have to be replaced," he said.
PLFD President Al Evangelista said, "Generally after 20 years you start to look at a replacement. We kept the truck because it was in good shape. We were able to get some more years because we have a terrific maintenance program, and we keep up with all the service on the truck. But sooner or later it gets to point where you start to replace one thing after another, and then it gets to where you are at a fire scene and sometimes you worry about breakdown in the heat of battle." The Fire Department has had the new truck for almost a month now, and it has already been out on service calls. The pumper truck it replaces has been stripped of its equipment, and is no longer in use. Fusaro said they are looking for somebody who wants to buy the old truck on the cheap. Evangelista said, "They are not worth a lot of money when they are that age, especially in this metropolitan area. Very few people buy used equipment." Including the new truck, the Fire Department currently has two pumpers, one mini pumper, one ladder truck, and one rescue truck in its fleet. The new truck mirrors the pumper it is replacing in size and function, Evangelista said. It has a 1,500 gallons-per-minute pump, a 500-gallon water tank, and a 40-gallon foam tank that is used for hazardous materials. To make the transition to the new truck seamless, all the equipment that was removed from the cabin of the old truck was placed in the same location in the new truck. "We even tried to put the same equipment in the same cabinets for ease of recognition, so when you get to a scene you kind of have an idea of what's in what cabinet on each of the different apparatuses," said Evangelista. Borough Administrator Kevin Boyle said the borough bonded about $500,000 over a two-year period to pay for the truck. The wetdown is the ceremonial christening for the new truck. Neighboring Riverdale recently had a wetdown on Aug. 27 to celebrate its new pumper rescue truck. Fusaro said a lot of the mutual aid towns will come out to participate in Pompton Lakes' wetdown. "They bring their fire trucks in, they pull up, and they basically hose the truck down," said Fusaro. There will be live music, a DJ, food, beer, soda, T-shirts, mugs, and other items for sale. The wetdown will be held from 5 to 10 p.m. at the firehouse on Passaic Avenue.
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Posted: Aug 31, 2016

Fire Apparatus Named Miss Tootie in Sidney (OH)

Mary Martz, left, walks with her mom, Mary Ann "Tottie" Gilmore, both of Lockington, to the front of the new Lockington Volunteer Fire Department fire truck that was named Miss Tootie after Gimore's nickname Sunday afternoon. Gilmore's father, William Forsythe, helped found the Lockington Fire Department in 1946 after his business burned down.
No nearby fire departments would come to his aid due to snowy weather. Gilmore and her family were recognized for their dedication to the fire department during an open house celebrating the department’s 70th anniversary. Careflight arrived and search and rescue dogs from All SAR K9’s demonstrated their tracking abilities.
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Posted: Aug 31, 2016

Wallington Council (NJ) Approves Purchase of Fire Apparatus

A new pumper fire truck was approved for purchase by the Wallington Mayor and Council at the Aug. 25 meeting. All council members present voted for it, with Councilman Christopher Sinisi stating prior to the vote, "I'm proud to say we'll be doing a second reading to replace Engine Company 202's pumper truck.
Seagrave Fire Apparatus in Wisconsin. He said Engine Company 202 is hoping to have the new rig by the end of summer of 2017, though sooner would be better.

He described the new truck as a duplicate of what the department already has. He said now that the ordinance has been passed they have to go to pre-construction meetings, review the plans and then they can sign the contract.

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