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Lebanon fire chief says 20‑year pumper needs replacement; committee weighs $1M purchase, grants and refurb options
Summary
Fire department leaders said an aging 2004 pumper has a rotted frame and rising maintenance risk; the committee discussed grant opportunities, warranties and a multi‑year funding plan for a new Pierce pumper estimated near $1.0M, and asked the department for a five‑year cost and replacement schedule.
Lebanon’s fire department presented a detailed request Dec. 4 to replace a 20‑year‑old pumper, telling the township committee that the apparatus has structural deterioration and that replacement, though costly, may be the safest option.
Chief Gabriel described the fleet and the problem: “We’re replacing aged equipment. It’s 20 years old.” Committee members and residents raised specific concerns about a rotted frame and repair feasibility. When asked directly whether the frame was rotted, the chief answered in the affirmative: “Yeah. It is.” The department said much of the existing equipment (hose, air packs, deck gun) can transfer to a new chassis, which reduces some cost.
Cost and procurement: the department reported competitive pricing from multiple manufacturers; Pierce quoted a unit in the neighborhood of $998,000 that later increased in price in negotiations, while other vendors (Rosenbauer, Smeal/Sutphen) provided higher estimates. Committee members cited current quotes in the $998,000–$1,020,000 range and noted further increases could occur if orders shift. Build times were described as roughly three to three‑and‑a‑half years; the department said warranties for frames and emissions components vary and that it would seek written warranty details and survey data on newer emission‑control reliability.
Funding options discussed included: applying for FEMA/AFG or state grants, seeking a congressional earmark, a bond ordinance, setting aside capital each year to lower borrowing needs, selling or trading in existing apparatus to recoup funds, and community fundraising. The department reported steady grant application success for smaller items and is pursuing larger grants; the committee discussed the potential to request an earmark or direct appropriation and asked the department to provide numbers.
Committee direction and next steps: members asked the fire department to produce a written five‑year plan with line‑item estimates, a third‑party frame inspection and photo documentation of corrosion, and to collect warranty language from Pierce or suppliers to support grant applications. The committee discussed possible debt structures and a bond ordinance to encumber funds; no formal purchase decision was made at the meeting.
Representative quotes: “‘We’re replacing aged equipment. It’s 20 years old,’” Chief Gabriel said, noting the truck’s central role in mutual‑aid responses. Resident and committee questions about warranty and the feasibility of refurbishing prompted the chief to offer to provide inspection reports and to invite members to examine the apparatus at the firehouse.
The committee signaled willingness to pursue a combination of capital planning and external grants but requested concrete estimates and documentation before any commitment.
