Fire Truck Refurbishing

Saving Taxpayers More Than $300,000

By John Voket

There is no doubt that when a Newtown resident calls for help from the fire department, dozens of volunteers stand ready to rush to assist. But a recent voluntary move by local fire companies to refurbish two key pieces of fire apparatus instead of buying new is helping to save Newtown taxpayers in a different way — saving them money.

The refurbishing of Sandy Hook Tanker 9 and Hook and Ladder’s Truck 111 could extend the vehicles’ functional lives up to 10 or 15 years or more according to First Selectman Herb Rosenthal. Mr Rosenthal lobbied his fellow selectmen, the Legislative Council, and the Board of Finance for the refurbishing and the funds to make it happen.

“The fire departments came to us and suggested the refurbishing as a way to save taxpayers a little money,” Mr Rosenthal told fellow selectmen last week. “They can effectively extend the life of the trucks without having to incur the expense of buying new.”

The initiative is expected to save more than $300,000 versus the cost of replacing the 20-year-old Truck 111 and the 19-year-old tanker, two of the busier and more heavily used pieces among more than 30 department vehicles spread out among the town’s five fire companies.

According to information furnished by Mr Rosenthal, the replacement purchase for Truck 111 was due to happen in this year’s budget and was earmarked at more than $400,000. Instead, the improvements to extend the life of the vehicle would only cost $155,000.

Fire Commissioners reported that Truck 111 is in good condition despite its age, and the refurbishment is expected to extend its usefulness at least 10 years. “We’ve had refurbished trucks go more than 15 years, but for practical purposes, the fire departments are counting on at least 10 years,” Mr Rosenthal said.

The work on Truck 111 involves enclosing the cab, performing necessary body work, upgrading the vehicle’s front axel and tires, changing out necessary cab and body wiring, lights and alternator, inspecting and rebuilding the pump, replacing the metal booster water tank with a noncorroding polyvinyl tank, adding a front bumper trash line, upgrading any piping needed, installing air conditioning in the closed cab area, and repainting and lettering the vehicle.

The first selectman said Truck 111 is among the busiest in town, responding to most Hook and Ladder calls and backing up all other fire companies on calls ranging from structure fires to rescues to car accidents and investigations.

Sandy Hook’s Tanker 9 is a vital piece of equipment used for shuttling supplies of water to outlying locations where other equipment is prevented from pumping directly from hydrants or natural water sources. Mr Rosenthal’s report reflects that although Tanker 9 has served the town admirably for 19 years, many of its components are out of date or require replacement.

As part of the tanker refurbishment, its pump is scheduled to be replaced, its engine will be overhauled, all wiring and emergency lighting will be replaced, and storage compartments will be reconfigured to hold more equipment, or newer pieces of collateral operating equipment. Instead of replacing Tanker 9 at almost $300,000, the refurbishment will cost $190,000.

During his presentation to the finance board on the matter, Peter Giarratano questioned whether the long-term savings of refurbishing over buying new still applied when considering the possible revenue from trading in the old apparatus.

But Mr Rosenthal indicated a recent sale of an aerial ladder truck that cost more than a half-million dollars to replace, only fetched $15,000 through a fire equipment auction service. That aerial truck was eventually purchased by the Town of New Fairfield.

Bids on used trucks up for auction online at worldfiredepartments.com bear out what Mr Rosenthal said. On that site a 1980 American LaFrance aerial truck was bidding at $2,878 and a 1980 Ford/Pierce 1,000-gallons-per-minute was only fetching a bid of $2,550.