The vehicle can seat four emergency responders, and has a rack on the back to hold an injury victim in a rescue basket. The basket can be pulled into the passenger compartment over the passenger side rear seat, so an EMT on the driver’s rear can attend to the victim while remaining safely belted into the seat.

The Gator is also equipped as a stand-alone firefighting platform, with onboard tanks holding 85 gallons of water and 2.5 gallons of fire suppression foam. Atop the water tank sits a hose reel and pump capable of moving 74 gallons of water per minute. When the tank runs out, a valve on the pump allows an extra onboard hose to draw water directly from ponds or creeks.

Since becoming fire chief a decade ago, Coughlin has won $413,530 in grant money and more than $60,000 worth of donated equipment for the department from organizations like the Maine Municipal Association, Maine Emergency Management and Maine EMS, as well as private foundations.

The primary purpose of a brush truck is to fight wildland or grass fires. The truck has an 800-gallon water tank, foam capability and lighter red hose line that will allow for a fast attack and help firefighters quickly get an upper hand on a fire.

Foam capability is important because foam is used to help cool the fire and coat the fuel, preventing contact with oxygen.

The release says bed bug infestations have been a growing issue across the country and in the region. It points to Myrtle Beach Fire Department, which experienced a similar issue in 2015 that impacted four of their stations, the Florence, Ala., Fire Department, which combated the issue for several weeks this year, and Berkeley County EMS, which worked through similar issues just a few months ago.

The release says once the problem was identified at Station 20 the firefighters were relocated to Station 18 while a professional contractor proceeded with the treatment, inspection, and cleaning of the station utilizing a chemical treatment process. Upon completion of the process, crews returned to the station, but still observed signs of infestation. Crews were again relocated as the professional contractor applied another treatment. Information was distributed to the department outlining recommended preventive measures to reduce the spread of the pests.