C5

ANDREW MCGILLIGAN
TELEGRAPH-JOURNAL

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ROTHESAY - Firefighter John Codling was all smiles standing next to a brand new fire truck inside of Fire Station 1 on Campbell Drive in Rothesay.

Enlarge Photo

KâtÈ LeBlanc/Telegraph-Journal

Chief Larry Greer cuts the ribbon to officially welcome the new fire truck, Pumper 2, the the Kennebecasis Valley Fire Department. On the right is fire commission member Peter McGinn.

The Kennebecasis Valley Fire Department officially took possession of Pumper 2 last week, the first of two new trucks expected to be delivered this year. While the truck sat shiny red in the garage of the station, Codling said the vehicle is a step forward for the department.

"It looks beautiful here, a nice shiny truck, but it's not a bells and whistles truck," he said. "It's a very practical truck."

First off, Pumper 2 is the first vehicle delivered to the department that meets all of the standards of the National Fire Protection Association.

"The two biggest things for us about the truck is the improved safety for the firefighters and the service it will provide to citizens," Codling said.

Unlike previous KV Fire vehicles, Pumper 2 has a fully enclosed crew cab capable of carrying five firefighters to a scene complete with breathing apparatus and hand tools. Codling said this allows for a larger crew to be on scene together and begin work quicker.

Another feature is what's on the side of the truck.

There's a nozzle that allows foam to be refilled on the truck from the side rather than climbing on top and pouring five-gallon cans in the tank. The storage areas allow for more equipment to be carried on the side rather than the top for quicker access.

"At a scene, when there's spray going everywhere, the top of the truck gets slippery," Codling said. "This helps keep the guys safe.

The only thing on scene that would need to be done from the top is if you're running the deck gun or large water cannon.

Ladders and other pieces of equipment stored on the top are connected to hydraulics that lower them down for easy access once arriving at a call.

"All the equipment is at operating height, that's a really big bonus for us," the firefighter said.

The truck was designed and built by Sutphen in Amlin, Ohio. The cost of Pumper 2 is about US$297,000. The company worked closely with the department on the specifications and will build the ladder truck scheduled to arrive in either Aug. or Sept. of this year.

Officials from both Quispamsis and Rothesay were on hand for the ceremony along with members of the fire department.

Rothesay Deputy Mayor Blair MacDonald said the new vehicles are important as the department grows with the community. Quispamsis Mayor Murray Driscoll praised the department for the dangerous work they do and their efforts in the community.

"You're the ones who keep us safe and the respect for you in the community is very high," Driscoll said.

The truck arrived on Jan. 23 and has yet to be sent on its first call. Codling said the department is busy training its members and getting everyone comfortable with Pumper 2 before it sees action.