Eryn Dion
News Staff Writer
 | |
| News staff photo by ERYN DION Capt. Denis Hamel of the Templeton Fire Department stands with the newest fire truck, which he is working on adapting into a rescue/pumper. |
Emblazoned with Eeyore, Piglet and Winnie the Pooh (all wearing appropriate firefighting gear of course), the town’s new engine, for now dubbed Engine 2, will soon be entering service as the front-line, or “first due,” truck for the department.
Although the truck is currently living in the garage bay, Fire Chief Ray LaPorte said his staff is “tickled” at their newest edition to the fleet.
“It’s been a long time coming,” said Chief LaPorte. “The town’s been suffering through some difficult financial struggles for quite a while, so to get anything, especially when it’s something so nice, is a big plus.”
Because on the town’s financial situation, Chief LaPorte said his department has been unable to replace his fleet’s main engine, which is now 34 years old.
“Which isn’t that old ... until you realize it’s a fire engine that’s that old,” the chief said.
The new truck will also replace an old rescue truck, which lately hasn’t been doing much rescuing due to a bad engine. Taking two trucks offline for one rescue/pumper, Chief LaPorte said, will make the department more efficient and save the town money in repairs down the line.
“Everybody thinks about the big, red shiny fire truck with sirens and the ladders that spray water,” Chief LaPorte said. “For us, it’s a function.”
That function, the chief explained, will be to serve as the main water supply for pumper trucks at an active fire, as well as provide extrication tools such as the Jaws of Life at the scene of an accident.
Chief LaPorte said the acquisition of the new truck was only made possible through numerous generous donations from local business owners and members of the community, including George Jones and Seaman Paper, Garlock Printing, Dennecrepe Corp., Pete’s Tire Barn, William Harris Inc., Royal Steam, Country Mischief, Dean Paige Welding and Lyman Signs.
“It was a compilation of everyone,” the chief said. Coming together, the group raised the $58,600 necessary to purchase the truck and transport it all the way from Florida.
“It’s a wicked good buy, considering they sell for over $400,000,” Chief LaPorte said of the newest addition, which is 16 years old.
For now, the engine is busy being retrofitted for its new life as a rescue/pumper, which includes converting cabinet space into space for rescue equipment and installing cables and generators, but it won’t be long before it’s on the road and ready to respond.
“We need something that will replace the truck that’s coming out of service, and this one will do just that,” Chief LaPorte said.
No comments:
Post a Comment