Shiny New Fire Engine Arrives In Tiverton

A new red and black rescue pumper engine rolled into the Station #2 Wednesday afternoon. The arrival was two and a half years coming, said Chief Robert Lloyd.

"It's a great addition to the department," he said. "It's sorely needed."

The $506,000 engine had to be bid on and then built, Lloyd said. The most qualified bidder was Shipman's Fire Equipment of Waterford, CT. According to Brian Baker, of Shipman's, the truck came from Ferrera Fire Apparatus, Inc. and was built in Louisiana.

Lloyd said the newest engine before the 2011 arrival has 143,000 miles on it and is 10 years old.

"It wouldn't pass inspection," he said.

The pumper carries 1,000 gallons of water and can pump 1,500 gallons per minute. Lloyd showed the steel-covered hose bed, which will keep the hose from getting bleached by the sun. There is a light tower on the engine for emergency scene lighting and all lighting is LED. He pointed to numerous side compartments for easy emergency management services equipment.

Lloyd added the red and black decal is a new style firefighters wanted to try. Those are the same colors used with Chicago Fire Department engines.

The new engine will be going to on Crandall Road. Engine #2 (the current Engine #3) will come to the North Tiverton station; Engine #1 (the current Engine #2) will go to on East Road; and the current Engine #1 will go into reserve, Lloyd said.

He added the town needs a more consistent schedule in their capital plan for apparatus replacement to ensure public safety for the community. "We needed this, but it's part of the bigger picture," he said. "We should have a new truck in every five years."