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BLOOMINGDALE - Boro orders new fire truck
(by Deborah Walsh - Staff Writer - October 02, 2008)
BLOOMINGDALE - The borough will enhance its firefighting capabilities now that a new Pierce Manufacturing Inc. fire truck is on order.
At its Sept. 23 meeting, the Borough Council awarded a contract to Pierce Manufacturing of Appleton, Wis., which bid $292,684 and will deliver the pumper truck within 180 days.
The borough received a second bid from Marion Rescue and Fire Apparatus, also of Wisconsin, which bid $289,550 but would have the truck ready for delivery within 315 days.
Fire Chief John D’Amato recommended the council accept the bid from Pierce Manufacturing, which offered the borough a $6,000 price reduction if a contract for the purchase was approved by Sept. 30. Another $6,000 deduction will be received if the borough makes a payment on the pumper upon completion of the construction of the truck’s chassis.
Upon review of the specifications, D’Amato said there were 10 areas where Marion’s proposal did not meet the borough’s specs. Additionally, Marion’s price did not include the delivery of the truck. D’Amato estimated that it would probably cost $2,000 for airfare and fuel to send a firefighter out to get the truck and drive it back to the borough.
At the Sept. 23 meeting, Councilwoman Linda Huntley presented a $30,000 check from the Salvation Army, which is earmarked for the fire truck purchase. The Salvation Army has operated a youth camp at its 400-acre Star Lake facility in the borough since 1923. As a charitable organization, it does not pay taxes to the borough.
The new fire truck will replace the 1984 Mack 1500 GPM (gallons per minute) pumper it purchased from Haledon for $5,500 after its 1985 Mack 1500 GPM experienced serious engine problems. The purchase was seen as a quick fix.
“We had one truck down and we got a used one. That truck is doing its job temporarily,” said D’Amato during a presentation to the council in June. “Our main objective is to replace the 1984 Mack.”
D’Amato said it was the Fire Department’s goal to have a balance of adequate equipment on both sides of town. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) does not recognize the 1984 Mack as a first-line engine.
“It is recommended that any apparatus from 1979 through 1985 be placed on the reserve status and upgraded as much as possible to meet the 1991 NFPA standards,” he said.
D’Amato said the 1984 Mack only stores 500 gallons of water and should be replaced with a truck that has a 1,000-gallon tank. Additionally, the cab only holds four firefighters and does not have adequate seatbelts. It has lap belts but lacks belts that strap across the chest. The Fire Department wanted to replace the 1984 Mack with a model that can accommodate six firefighters, which means more manpower initially responding to a fire.
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