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Fire department warns of four‑year lead times for new apparatus; mechanics request diagnostic lift and scan tool
Summary
Fire officials outlined aging apparatus and long procurement lead times, recommended staggered purchases, and requested a vehicle lift and universal scan tool for mechanics; the department also plans to replace about 10 town AED units this year.
Fire department officials briefed the committee on apparatus condition, replacement timing and maintenance needs, stressing multi‑year lead times for new vehicles.
Speaker 5, representing the fire department, described engine 111 (a 2007 unit) as refurbished on the frame rails with 89,000 miles and said the department typically sees a four‑year wait between ordering new apparatus and delivery. “It takes approximately 4 years to get these trucks from when they're ordered,” Speaker 5 said, and recommended staggering replacements so multiple vehicles do not reach end of life simultaneously.
Committee members asked whether major components (chassis or engines) can be transferred to new frames; Speaker 5 said past ambulance chassis swaps proved time‑consuming and costly, and trading in older units for value is often preferable. The department discussed trading a 2011 ambulance toward a ladder truck and using utility vehicles (UTVs) or multi‑use units for dive and rescue functions.
Mechanics highlighted workshop needs: a frame‑lift that raises vehicles by the frame (rather than wheels) and a universal vehicle scan tool to speed electronic diagnostics. Speaker 5 noted that those tools would allow mechanics to change tires and diagnose modern vehicle computer issues more efficiently.
On public‑safety equipment, Speaker 5 said the townwide AED program has “just under 80 units” and that about 10 units plus replacement batteries/pads would be replaced this year as part of routine upkeep.
No formal procurement decisions were made at this meeting. Staff will include the fire apparatus priorities and requested shop equipment in the capital compilation submitted to the committee for the next round of budget decisions.
