LIVERMORE FALLS – It’s shiny, red and has special capabilities.

No, it’s not Santa or his sleigh.

It’s the Livermore Falls Fire Department’s new 2007 tanker truck with pumper capabilities and new safety features, including two 10-inch electronic “side shoots” or water dumps and one in the rear that can be operated from inside the cab or outside to fill portable dump tanks at fire scenes. The truck also sports interior and exterior gauges showing how much water the vehicle is carrying.

In addition to American flags, the sides of the truck have emblems of firefighters’ helmets embossed with flags surrounded by the words, “Honoring America’s bravest 9/11/01 We will Never Forget,” in memory of firefighters who lost their lives on the Sept. 11, fire Chief Kenny Jones said.

After the loss of thousands of lives in that attack, including more than 300 firefighters, the government decided that emergency responders were not ready if the country was attacked, Jones said.

The Fire Act grant program was subsequently established, and it helped fund the new tanker, Jones said.

Firefighters spent dozens of hours working to secure the truck, including 12 to 18 just to write the grant proposal.

The department received the 2006 Fire Act grant for $198,000, including the town’s matching share of $9,900, which voters approved spending in February. The department also added some budgeted money to put additional items on the truck.

The Emergency-One tanker truck was supposed to arrive earlier this year, but was declined until some workmanship concerns were fixed. It arrived at the station on Nov. 1.

The tanker does not meet exact height, length and width specifications, but the department decided to accept the vehicle and park it in another bay at the station than the one originally planned, Jones said.

“We determined it wasn’t worth making necessary adjustments to have it fit in the location of our desire,” Jones said. “Trucks today are too big to fit in a 10-by-10 door.”

The tanker replaces a 1988 converted tanker that used to be an oil truck.

Firefighters are training to use the new truck.

“I’m excited. Certainly I think everybody in the department is excited over this,” Jones said. “The capabilities of this truck are great. This isn’t just a tanker, it’s a multi-use vehicle.”

The truck will be used as a tanker to shuttle water for rural fires and as a third pumper truck on larger in-town fires.

The department made strides this year to upgrade its aging fleet of trucks, Jones said. There are seven trucks in the fleet. A 1965 forestry unit and a 1972 pumper are among the oldest.

Voters approved buying Farmington’s 1988 ladder truck earlier this year for $105,000 and it has been in use with Livermore Falls for several months.

Jones said the department and residents are fortunate to get the grant for the tanker truck. Assistant Chief Marvin Parker and former Assistant Chief Jim Leclerc were part of team of firefighters who worked to get the truck, he said.

“Only 25 percent of departments that apply for vehicle acquisitions are awarded each year,” Jones said. “We’re very fortunate and thankful that we have this piece.”