Plainville Fire Department recently took delivery of its greatly needed new fire truck.
Four Guys Truck and Fire Equipment, of Pennsylvania, delivered the state-of-the-art tanker pumper on Thursday, Aug. 23.
“The guys are excited, they are like kids in a candy store,” said Bill Finnegan, chairman of the Plainville Fire Department Board of Commissioners, who has been with the PFD for 45 years.
With a base price of $383,000, the total cost of the vehicle came to $392,000 after having safety features added; the district residents had approved a cost of up to $395,000 last year for the purchase, $150,000 of which was bonded and the rest paid for with district reserves.
The tanker pumper was long overdue as the district’s newest fire truck was 20-plus years old; all three of the department’s trucks fail to meet current safety standards.
“With the new safety features that are mandatory by the NFPA [National Fire Protection Association], we were so far out of compliance,” Bill said of the district’s older trucks.
The PFD covers the area stretching from Jack’s Reef on the south side to Church Road on the north side, the county line on the west side to the western outskirts of the village of Baldwinsville. This includes the following developments: Indian Springs, Giddings Crest, Whispering Oaks, Seneca Estates and River Mist.
The new tanker pumper can carry 1,500 gallons of water. Considering water issues in various areas of the coverage district including shortages, problems with hookups and lack of volume, having the 1,500-gallon capacity resolves a safety issue.
“Our biggest fear is water supply,” Finnegan said. “This truck is made for rural areas; it can be used as a tanker and engine. The extra 500 gallons gives us a few more minutes for the rest of the tankers to arrive.”
