NORWICH – For months, the fate of the Norwich Fire Department’s arial ladder truck has been up in the air, presenting safety concerns within the city and contracting townships. Now, the future of the apparatus looks bleak after recommendations have been made by NFD to the Common Council to move forward with the purchase of a new or used truck rather than make repairs to the existing one.
An annual inspection of the 30-year-old truck was performed by engineers of the American Test Center in June. The agency refused to pass the truck, citing a number of concerns including a supporting cross-member so badly deteriorated that it would present serious safety risks if the truck’s 100-foot ladder were to be used. Replacement of the cross-member alone would top $24,000 and making the 18 other additional repairs could certainly trump the truck’s overall worth, according to Fire Chief Tracy Chawgo.
The issue was first brought to the council’s attention over the summer. The fire chief recently addressed the council again during a joint committees meeting last week, presenting members with recommendations as well as an inspection report and engineer’s report.
Chawgo explained that if the truck were to be repaired, it would be only a short-term fix, and a costly one at that. “It’s like putting a Band-Aid on a broken leg,” he said, “but there’s a lot to consider. It’s a work in progress and we’re still trying to figure out every option.”
A special committee comprised of paid NFD staff, volunteers and NFD Assistant Chief Jan Papelino reviewed the issues concerning the truck and ultimately made recommendation that it be replaced by another one that’s no more than ten years old. Hopes are that a newer model would serve the city as well as contracting townships of Norwich, North Norwich and Guilford for the next 30-40 years, according to the recommendation’s report.
Cost, however, is a big concern. A used apparatus with a 75-105 ft. ladder could range between $80,000 and $600,000; and to buy new would be almost unfathomable, Chawgo said, with prices from $700,000 to as much as $1.4 million.
Chawgo said the biggest issue in purchasing a replacement would be financing. “We would have to find someone to finance us with what we need first and then go from there,” he said. “We’re always looking for grant money,” he added. Grant funds were made available from the Federal Emergency Management Agency earlier this year, but funding application deadlines have already passed. The department would have to wait another year to apply, that is if grant funding is made available again.
In the meantime, the truck is still responding to every fire call and the department is relying on the Sherburne Fire Department under the county fire mutual aid agreement for use of its arial truck when called for; however, the arrangement comes with a number of snags, Chawgo noted. Waiting for the truck leads to a longer response time, and it could be unavailable if needed in the city or in the Village of Sherburne. Also, any damage or maintenance issues that arise while responding to, operating at or returning from any NFD call falls on the shoulders of the city’s fire department.
“It’s a very important piece of equipment,” Chawgo said. “Right now, we’re doing the best we can to fix the problem.”