Residents to vote on plan for new pumper in Maine town

By Mechele Cooper
The Kennebec Journal

WHITEFIELD, Maine — If residents approve a request from The North Whitefield Fire Department for $20,000 at their annual town meeting next month, they'll get a brand new fire-pumper truck.

North Whitefield Volunteer Fire Department Chief Tim Pellerin said the $20,000 includes $8,750 match for the $166,250 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (FIRE Act) grant his company just received. The rest of the $20,000 will be used to purchase new equipment for the truck including ladders and hoses.

"Essentially if it passes at town meeting the town of Whitefield will be able to buy a brand new fire truck that will last 30 years and we'll be able to buy it for $20,000 plus the grant," Pellerin said. "Those trucks sell for $200,000."

Pellerin said the grant will allow the fire company to enhance its response capabilities. The pumper truck will have a fully enclosed cab where firefighters can be safe and warm and seat-belted, he said.

The company will trade in its old pumper truck, a 25-year-old model the company bought used five years ago. He said his fire company receives about 100 fire calls a year.

Pellerin said he receive notice that his fire company would receive funding through the vehicle acquisition program from Congresswoman Chellie Pingree's office. He said the program helps local departments purchase equipment such as pumpers, brush trucks, tankers, rescue vehicles and ambulances.

"This increases our capabilities tenfold," he said. "It will save money on vehicle maintenance and be safer for firefighters. All the way around it's just a great situation for the fire company and community. I'm thrilled to death that we got it."

Two other fire departments in Maine receive funding from the Department of Homeland Security's Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program -- Alton Fire Department, $43,605 and Goodwin's Mills Fire & Rescue in Lyman, $128,731.

U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, said the FIRE Act is an extremely critical source of funds for Maine fire and rescue personnel.

"Since the creation of this program, Maine fire departments have been awarded more than $50 million to help purchase new, used or refurbished vehicles and to obtain equipment for firefighting, inter-operable communications, chemical detection and other purposes that are essential to first responders," Collins said.

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