CHESHIRE, Mass. — Cheshire Fire Department's new fire engine is officially in service. 

 

On Wednesday night, volunteer firefighters and emergency medical personnel gathered outside the Cheshire Community House to retire the 2001 front-line piece and put their brand-new E-One custom pumper into service.

 

"We ordered it approximately 14 months ago. It's kind of been a little bit of a roller coaster getting the collaboration between us and the dealership, but I'm happy to say that it is being put in service tonight," Fire Chief Tom Francesconi said during the all boards and committees meeting. 

 

During a special town meeting last year, voters approved the borrowing of $850,000 for the purchase of the new fire truck. However, the meeting was not properly posted, causing a delay in borrowing.

 

"This new fire engine will replace an aging 2001 front line piece of apparatus and this new fire engine is a welcome addition to our fleet," the department's website said. 

 

"Thank you to everyone that supports us each and every day. A special thank you to our salesman, Mike Nugai and the entire team at Greenwood Emergency Vehicles for their patience and support of us with this purchase." 

 

The department's old apparatus will go back to the dealership because the department cannot certify it as a fire engine. 

 

"So, that's why the dealership takes them back, so we can't just kind of sell it to another municipality because of liability reasons," Francesconi said. 

 

"We're taking a 2001 out of service, and to give it to another municipality to deal with just really wouldn't make any sense." 

 

The borrowing for the fire truck was done on a short-term basis for four months, with the hope that interest rates will drop.

 

In January, the loan will be put out to bid again, aiming for a lower interest rate. If successful, this could save the town approximately $2,500 to $3,000 in interest costs, said Jennifer Morse, town administrator.

 

Francesconi also serves on the town's Public Safety Complex Committee. 

 

Like other towns nationally, the police and fire department are exploring solutions to address their needs as they have outgrown their facilities and are facing issues with their aging conditions, he said. 

 

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration's revised standards for the fire services are driving the fire and police departments into the 21st Century, Francesconi said. 

 

Although OSHA was in the state, it previously did not regulate fire service. 

 

The fire station moved to its current location, at 191 Church St., in 1989; the police department moved into its old facility that same year, Francesconi said. 

 

"I don't want to panic anybody. It's not like we're going to town meeting next year asking for a new public safety complex. We're just kind of exploring right now, and when it comes time, we will present to the townspeople some options, depending on what they want to do with it," he said. 

 

The fire department currently has 28 volunteer members, which is very good considering it's a volunteer force, Francesconi said. 

 

"We do receive a stipend of $20 per call. The members do receive that … we're obviously always actively recruiting," he said. 

 

They continue to train on Thursday nights and work closely with Northern Berkshire EMS for ambulance services.

 

"Many of you saw several years ago, Adams ambulance went out of business and northern Berkshire started covering for Cheshire, unfortunately for the nation, EMS and the fire service is not as staffed as we would like to see it," Francesconi said. 

 

"EMS is suffering pretty bad for employees. So, we're working hard to come up with a solution for that." 

 

The department is also pursuing grants to replace outdated equipment and has been successful with grants in the past.