By Jack Minch
The Sentinel & Enterprise
LEOMINSTER, Mass. — The Fire Department is getting a big, new, red firetruck for the first time in several years.
The net purchase price is $475,440, but after the department buys equipment such as ladders, hoses, nozzles and medical equipment to outfit the truck, the cost is expected to reach about $600,000.
The truck will be built by Pierce Manufacturing in Appleton, Wis., and is expected to be delivered in the fall, said Chief Robert Sideleau.
It will replace Engine 3, which was built in 1995 and has about 130,000 miles, he said.
Engine 3, at the North Leominster fire station, will be put in reserve status for large fires and mutual aid to other communities.
The North Leominster fire station handles calls north of Route 2 and is the first responder to HealthAlliance Hospital, The Mall at Whitney Field, Doyle Field and the Kmart.
“The territory is quite large,” Sideleau said.
Funding was approved with the new budget for the current fiscal year and the city’s purchasing agent sent out a request for proposals.
“This allows us to pick a vehicle that fits our needs, but it’s done on a competitive basis,” Sideleau said.
The city is paying for the truck without a loan using money in its reserves.
“In this particular way you pay it right off, you’ve got the money, you pay it off and it’s done,” Mayor Dean Mazzarella said.
The city will get an $8,000 discount if it pays $263,980 toward the purchase price when production on the chassis begins, said Purchasing Agent Gregory Chapdelaine.
“So we’re taking advantage of that,” he said.
The city is buying insurance and a performance bond to protect its investment during the construction, Chapdelaine said.
Pierce won the project over two other bidders, Seagrave and KME.
Sideleau has had a small team from his department working on the purchase for months.
Master mechanic Dave Comeau, firefighter Randy Pouliot, Deputy Gary Ranno pored over the bids from manufacturers, comparing specifications and materials to be used in construction.
“I was very thankful to the three gentlemen who helped,” Sideleau said. “The city is going to get a much better firetruck because of their work.”
Sideleau and the committee decided on a truck design, with the hoses and tools close to the ground, and visited other fire departments, including Lowell and Boston, to get ideas.
Sideleau and his committee chose the Pierce model, with a 400-horsepower engine.
It will be have a 700-gallon water tank on board, which is slightly smaller than average but will be able to pump 1,500 gallons of water a minute, which is average.
It is similar to a truck design used by the Lowell Fire Department, Sideleau said.
The truck is expected to see front-line duty for about 15 years and then likely be put on reserve status for another 10-15 years.
“You’re talking 25 to 30 years it will serve the city,” Sideleau said.
The department will retire Engine 5 which was built in 1985 and is now used for reserve duty.
“We got our money’s worth out of that,” Comeau said.
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