DALTON, Mass.—The delivery of the Fire District's new ladder truck has been delayed for a fourth time and it is now expected to be delivered the second week in October. 

 

Since the start of the project, Northern Fire Equipment has run into multiple obstacles causing these delays including a staffing shortage, project changes, and unexpected mechanical malfunctions. 

 

"The biggest thing is that he used to have 12 people working for him and now he has six. COVID hit him hard and so they're doing the best they can,"  Board of Water Commissioners Chair James Driscoll said. 

 

In addition to the staffing shortages the truck's Detroit Diesel ECM, which controls the fuel injection, needed to be replaced. 

 

Since then the replacement part has been delivered. It costs $2,700 and will be covered by Northern Fire Equipment

 

The district also requested that Northern Fire Equipment add a USB-A/USB-C outlet to the dashboard. Almost all fire departments change imaging and other devices with this type of outlet. This addition will not cost the district any money. 

 

The district will stay in communication with Northern Fire Equipment and try to get the project completed faster. 

 

If the district receives notice of another delay they will visit Northern Fire Equipment to look at it. 

 

The ladder truck went into the paint booth this past Monday. The ladder truck has been completely refurbished from the ground up. 

 

The Fire Department sidelined its 32-year-old ladder truck in 2022 because of mechanical and safety concerns and had been loaned a truck from the Boston Fire Department. 

 

The Boston Fire Department has replacement trucks that they lend out to other fire companies in the state. The loan truck the department was using was returned on Aug. 7. 

 

The town purchased its "new" 2000 ladder truck for about $100,000, including having it refurbished. A brand-new ladder truck can cost a million and a half to $2 million. 

 

The Northern Fire Equipment will be sending a picture of the truck which will be forwarded to interim Fire Chief Robert Czerwinski.

 

In other news: 

 

•The department's engine-2 passed inspection but there are a few vehicles that will need to be inspected this month. 

 

•The department's boiler and air compressor tank passed Liberty Mutual's annual inspection. 

 

•A per-diem paramedic was interviewed on Wednesday. 

 

•The good weather that the area has been experiencing has allowed for more outdoor training including pump operations and ladder training.