$1.12M Request Made By Noroton Fire Department For New Truck

DARIEN, CT — The Darien Board of Selectmen on Dec. 11 will consider an appropriation request of $1.12 million and a bonding authorization to replace a rescue pumper truck at the Noroton Fire Department.

According to documents associated with Monday's regularly scheduled Board of Selectmen meeting, the NFD's apparatus replacement committee reached a point where the department is ready to order a replacement for Engine 32, a 2002 Marion rescue pumper.

"According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standard on fire apparatus, a piece of apparatus should be considered for front-line removal after 15 years of service, and then moved to a reserve status, and replaced after 25 years of age," NFD Chief Brendan Keane said in a letter to the Board of Selectmen. "The current Engine 32 was built by Marion and delivered in 2002; it is anticipated that construction will take approximately 2.5 years to complete."

Keane noted that the new truck will have the ability to carry 650 to 750 gallons of water for firefighting, and it will have 1,500 feet of hose for water supply from fire hydrants, plus a full complement of smaller hose lines for fire suppression.

Additionally, the truck will be equipped with rescue tools for motor vehicle accidents.

The apparatus replacement committee considered the option of refurbishing the current truck, but a rough cost-esimtate of $550,000 using 2021 costs determined that wasn't the best route for the town or the NFD.

Marion Body Works, the manufacturer of the truck, has agreed to freeze the price of the truck for 60 days.

"Marion Body Works anticipates another price increase January 1, 2024, and indicated they will not be able to honor the current pricing after the 60-day window closes in late January," Keane said.

This would be the fourth Marion truck for the NFD, and the 10th for the town of Darien overall, according to Keane.

Monday's Board of Selectmen meeting will begin at 7 p.m., from Darien Town Hall, and will be broadcast live on Darien TV79.