Dispatch from Rockport Fire Department: Town’s new $2.5 million truck arrives from Germany
Rockport Fire Department is pleased to announce its newest fire truck has arrived. The following was posted on on the fire department’s Facebook page earlier today.
“We can’t wait for the ice to go out on Tolman Pond so we can see how she goes,” Chief Peasley announced shortly after the arrival of Rockport Fire’s newest truck, a 2015 custom-built by Aton Impulse of Wilhelm, Germany. “Deputy Chief Philbrook and I drove her up from Boston last night after it cleared customs. It’s amazing how well it drives; I hit 70 mph on the turnpike”, Peasley said.
The new truck holds 250 gallons of water, but can pump an unlimited supply from whatever waterbody it is in. With a price tag of just over $2.5 million, the new truck will add $50 per $100,000 of tax value to Rockport residents tax bills this year as the mil rate will increase to $25 per $1,000 of assessed value.
"We want to pay it off quick,” Rockport Town Manager Rick Bates said.
Rockport has been in the works to get an amphibious fire truck for a number of years; however, Bates, a sailor, has been pushing the truck through quicker for Rockport since becoming town manager a couple years ago.
“I’m hoping they let me drive it at least once,” said Bates.
Former Rockport Fire Chief Bruce Woodward just shook his head when he saw the new truck.
“That thing can hold a lot of squirt bottles,” he said. “I would have held off retiring if I knew this dream would have finally been realized.”
Woodward first presented the idea of Rockport having such a truck back in 1975, but town leaders laughed at the time.
There is a lot of territory for the truck to cover.
“We’ve got the two ponds off White Tail Drive, Rocky Pond, Mace’s Pond, Tolman Pond, Mirror Lake, and half of Chickee,” said Peasley. “And don’t forget the harbor!”
A special planning board meeting has been set for later this week where town leaders are going to review plans for building launching ramps at Rocky and Mace’s ponds to launch the vehicle when amphibious operations are needed.
“We’re still waiting to hear back from the state regarding whether we can run it in Mirror Lake”, Peasley said. “We don’t expect to fight a lot of fires or do many rescues on Mirror Lake, but we need to know we can if we are called upon.”
Mirror Lake is protected because it is a public water supply.
Rockport firefighters plan to take the new truck out on Rockport Harbor tomorrow and the public is invited for harbor tours.
“Kim Graffam over at Graffam Lobster asked if we could help pull a few traps with it since one of her lobster boats is out of commission, so we’re looking forward to that. I hope everyone can come join us,” Peasley said.
Have a great April Fools Day - J.F.
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