The fire crews operate on a low budget without much to begin with, so when thieves broke in, it was a blow to the station.

Joseph Bergov came to work to find the back garage pried open and the surveillance cameras he installed pointing the other way. Surveillance cameras managed to capture one suspect looking directly into the lens while the other aimed for the fire trucks parked inside.

In all, they made off with rescue tools used to save lives in serious accidents, firefighting tools, even a medical bag. It was the only gear the station had, and it was on loan from an established local fire station. Now crews are forced to rely on other agencies.

The reason for delaying the vote: the finance board wants assurances that the truck replacing the 1995 Sutphen pumper is consistent with a fire department’s long-term strategy. However, that strategy will be based on a six-month study that will not begin until July 12.

“This study will be six months, so it will become a safety issue,” Kingsbury told Michael Rea, finance board vice chairman.

Rea had initiated that the board hit the pause button.

“This request is untimely, and we should postpone it until we know the results of the study,” Rea said.

Brian Stern, finance board chairman, agreed, saying the board “should pause for a big capital investment and see if it is consistent with the study.”

In addition to safety concerns, Kingsbury said he did not want a delay to cause his department to lose the agreed upon price for the new truck.

The Charlottetown Fire Department bought the Bickle back in 1942. But in 2003, the city determined the engine had past its prime and was just taking up space in the station. It was sold and re-sold a few times in Nova Scotia.

Flanagan didn't know about the sale until after the truck was gone.

"After all those years of watching it, and then seeing it go to Nova Scotia, I didn't think I'd ever see it again,"  he said.

Flanagan said he wasn't sure at the time what work was needed to restore it.

"It was parked outside with a tent over it, so it was out in the winter elements," he said.

"It didn't run at the time, so we were not quite sure what we were getting."

But Flanagan decided to bargain for the old engine.