DALTON, Mass.—The Select Board raised concerns regarding the delay of Dalton Fire District’s Ladder Truck during its meeting last week. 

 

The town is currently without a ladder truck which Select Board chair Joe Diver found more concerning with the recent Fire on High Street on Monday, Oct. 9.  said.

 

The town had to utilize Pittsfield's ladder truck for Monday's fire.  

 

"We're coming up on two years," Select Board member Marc Strout said. 

 

The 2000 ladder truck has been delayed a number of times since being purchased. iBerkshires last reported in Sept. that the Fire Truck was delayed for a fourth time with a new expected delivery date of the second week in Oct. 

 

The second week in Oct. has come and gone and the town is still without a ladder truck. 

 

The Select Board voted to have the Water Commission submit to them documented evidence of the ladder truck including pictures, invoices, payments, and all documents related to the truck by the next Select Board meeting. 

 

According to Board of Water Commissioners Chair James Driscoll, more information on the ladder truck’s status will be available closer to the end of the month. 

 

The town utilized $119,500 in American Rescue Plan Act funds to purchase the truck when the department sidelined its 32-year-old ladder truck in 2022 due to mechanical and safety concerns. Normally a ladder truck can cost $1.5 million to $2 million. 

 

The "new" ladder truck is currently with Northern Fire Equipment who are refurbishing it from the ground up." Delays have been caused by mechanical and staffing issues. 

 

"It has been delayed significantly. And we hear different statuses all the time…I'm hearing some pretty significant rumors. I don't like to go on rumors. I want to go on facts," Diver said. 

 

"And since we funded this from ARPA, we should see evidence, including photographic evidence of the status of this ladder truck by the time we meet next."