Simsbury Firefighters Gifted A Chevy Van

SIMSBURY, CT — Local selectmen recently approved a special gift from one town department to another.

The Simsbury Board of Selectmen Jan. 8 unanimously approved the donation of a small, Dial-a-Ride program van from the local public works department to the Simsbury Fire District.

As a result of the donation, local firefighters will have a place to either cool off or warm up if at an extended fire scene, along with a means of transportation to get people and equipment from one location to the next.

Simsbury Director of Public Works/Town Engineer Tom Roy told selectmen that donating the van is getting more use from it than selling it because the value for the van is too low.

He said the bus, which has 161,000 miles on it, was recently put to an online auction, with the highest bid being for $3,200.

The 2014 model Chevrolet Express van is considered to be in fair condition, though it has bald tires that need to be replaced, according to a town memorandum on the donation.

"The Simsbury Fire District has expressed an interest in the bus to be used for auxiliary rehabilitation services at emergency incidents," wrote the town.

"The bus will provide warming and cooling facilities for our first responders, allow for equipment to be easily transported to the scene of emergencies, eliminate the need to use personal cars, and could provide limited personnel movement when appropriate."

Donations of this size require the approval of selectmen, which was easily gained at the last meeting.

For more information on the bus donation, click on this link and scroll to Page 14.

For the minutes of the Jan. 8 Simsbury Board of Selectmen meeting, click on this link.