Cedar Grove Fire Department Seeks Replacement Engine

The Cedar Grove Fire Department is asking the Township Council to replace one of its pumper trucks, which has become a financial burden to the department, gobbling up 80 percent of its repair budget, and creating "unacceptable downtime."

Engine 72 has been in service by North End Company No. 2 since 1996, and has primarily been used to battle structure fires with its on-board water supply. Fire Captain Joe Lipari told the Township Council at its staff meeting this week that Engine 72 has been on the scene of thousands of fire emergencies, but is nearing the end of its usefulness.

"Repairs have become frequent and expensive. It's creating unacceptable downtime," Lipari said, noting repairs in 2009 and 2010 alone totaled $50,000.

Lipari said the all-volunteer department is looking to obtain a new pumper at a cost of $635,000, minus the trade-in value of Engine 72.

In October, Center Company No. 1 replaced an 18-year-old engine with Engine 71, a 2010 Pierce rescue pumper with a price tag of $650,000.

Lipari said the National Fire Protection Association, which sets safety standards for fire departments nationwide, has changed its guidelines three times since the department added Engine 72 to its fleet, putting the department thrice behind the association's recommendations.

Mayor Robert O'Toole, a member of North End Company No. 2 himself, acknowledged the maintenance headache the aging Engine 72 has become for the department, and said he is "definitely willing to consider" a replacement.

"I know this truck has had some major electrical problems and there's a question about its transmission right now," he said in an interview.

"Fire trucks have to be replaced, you can't just keep running them into the ground because it makes us less efficient and costs us more money to keep repairing them," he said.

Before the truck can be purchased, the council must issue a bond ordinance for the vehicle. Once the bond is acquired, the council will put it to a vote.

O'Toole said the new engine could be purchased by the end of the year following the bidding and bonding process if the council approves, which he said has "a very favorable" chance of happening.

The Cedar Grove Fire Department responded to almost 400 calls in 2010.