By Aaron Leo
Connecticut Post Online
Copyright 2007 MediaNews Group, Inc.
All Rights Reserved

BRIDGEPORT, Conn. — A whole row of fire engine red 2007 minivans and sport utility vehicles sat in the parking lot of Fire Department headquarters Wednesday afternoon, gleaming in the late spring sunshine.

Their predecessors, a hodgepodge of 14- to 20-year-old Ford Tauruses and Escorts, would not have gleamed. They may not have even started up right away.

The new vehicles, Ford Explorers, Expeditions, a cargo van and the Dodge Caravans will replace vehicles used by Chief Brian Rooney, three deputy chiefs, two battalion chiefs, the Fire Marshal Division and Maintenance Division.

They were unveiled in a ceremony at headquarters.

"This is another exciting day for the city of Bridgeport," said Mayor John M. Fabrizi, flanked by three deputy chiefs and a fire inspector from the fire marshal's office.

The chief will drive a 2007 Crown Victoria, Fabrizi said.

"The chief was using a borrowed police vehicle as his primary means of transport," the mayor said.

"The replacement of fire and police department vehicles is something that's been needed for many, many years in Bridgeport," he said.

"I believe public safety is greatly enhanced."

The vehicles will last longer, too, Fabrizi said, from a new more rigorous maintenance program.

"We'll get longevity to these vehicles that we've never gotten before," he said.

Two new fire engines are expected in a couple of weeks, fire officials added. One replaces a 20-year-old engine. A fire engine lasts from five to seven years, said Deputy Chief Thomas Connor, in charge of operations.

Deputy chiefs are on call in weeklong cycles and can take home city cars in that time.

The money came from a $500,000 block grant and $250,000 from the city's capital budget, said Michael Giannotti, special projects coordinator.

The fleet purchase may set a record, said Deputy Chief Robert Petrucelli.

"This is the first time in the history of the Bridgeport Fire Department we've purchased this many vehicles in a fiscal year," he said.

Deputy Chief James Grace said they look good, too.

"We're going to be looking good, not mismatched," he said.