For the last 12 years Aimee Cantola has painted on the display that fills the glass windows at Fire Station 8, carrying on the tradition from late firefighter John Hughes.  

The themes have varied over the years from the Peanuts to the Grinch. She says she often inspired by the young imaginations at home every time she plans out a design.

The boat, named Marine 24, has the capacity to act as a fire engine on the water by using the lake to provide direct fire suppression.  

"This boat is like a floating fire engine or fire hydrant on the water, with a full spectrum of the latest technology to aid in saving lives and protecting property," Eric Guevin, TDFPD fire marshal, said in a press release. "We really needed this type of apparatus to meet the code requirements and provide for fire protection."

The new truck is a Sutphen rescue pumper and arrives just in time for winter, when firefighters say they see the most fires.  

With a price tag of around half-a-million dollars. Thomas says they expect this engine to last them three or four decades.

The RFP to build the pumper truck is the last of the bids. The equipment is being funded by a more than $4.9 million U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Block Grant program through the office of the city’s Community Development Agency.  

Fall River Fire Chief John Lynch said this will mean the fire department will receive four new pumper trucks, two aerial trucks and one heavy rescue in addition to other fire fighting apparatus over the course of a three year period.

 

Michael Dion, CDA’s executive director, said bids for the fire equipment have been coming under budget with a savings of approximately $500,000. With the additional money the city was able to purchase an additional pumper truck from the original plan to build three of the trucks.