WEST PARIS – At last Thursday’s meeting, selectmen continued to discuss the fire department’s fleet. Two trucks need work.

Fire Chief Norman St. Pierre said engine one needs repairs of its electrical system and pump. The department’s Freightliner is difficult to drive with the transmission it has now. A different transmission means more firefighters could drive it,

Earlier this month it had been decided to replace the Freightliner transmission but last week it was decided to wait until the town meeting in March to see if the town will pay to install an automatic transmission.

As for engine one, St. Pierre said the 1979 truck is obsolete and the only way to repair it is with used parts.

Selectman Dennis Henderson said, “Used parts have been found by Lenny Adler (service manager for the truck department at Ripley and Fletcher in Paris), have been ordered and are on the way.”

Repairs on the truck will be moving ahead soon.

St. Pierre was pleased.

“I can’t rely on the truck as it is. I wouldn’t want it to die at a structure fire and have us end up with two dead firemen in the building if we ran out of water,” he said.

Money for the repairs will come from the department’s maintenance account.

The Freightliner will be used while prices are obtained to install an automatic transmission.

A study is ongoing into the purchase of a new fire truck, which St. Pierre feels is needed to keep the fire department strong in the future.

Selectmen have indicated they support the fire department and agree that there are needs to be addressed as soon as possible.


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