The Cranbury Fire Department requests a new pumper/rescue truck.
By: Jessica Beym
The Cranbury Fire Department has something red and shiny on its wish list this year.
The volunteer firefighters are putting in a request for a new pumper/rescue truck just as the Township Committee begins to prepare its 2006 budget.
The Fire Department is asking the township to contribute $550,000 for a new $700,000 combination truck that would carry rescue equipment to the site of motor vehicle accidents and serve as a second pumper truck to respond to a fire.
The new truck would replace the 21-year-old ambulance that is used to carry the rescue equipment, and a 26-year-old pumper truck.
Bill Peters of WC Peters Fire Apparatus Consulting Services, LLC gave a presentation during the Township Committee meeting Monday, citing the reasons to purchase the new vehicle. They included rapidly increasing costs, changing industry standards, and age and safety hazards with the current Fire Department vehicles.
"The prices are increasing and escalating beyond belief," said Mr. Peters, who noted that prices typically increase 2 to 3 percent annually, but they have recently increased by 10 percent or more.
In 2007, Mr. Peters said, there will be a change in federal emission standards that will affect the design, cost and size of trucks. Mr. Peters recommended purchasing new equipment before these regulations go into effect.
"There are changes that are coming down the road that will affect the cost greatly," said Mr. Peters.
The fire department would not be required to retrofit the trucks after the new emission standards are in place, he said.
Ms. Peters said the majority of property in Cranbury is classified under National Fire Protection Association standards for "low-hazard" and "rural hazard" zones, which each have guidelines for the recommended number of response vehicles.
Only a few properties, such as the Elms of Cranbury, Staybridge Suites, Residence Inn, and Cranbury School are classified as "high-hazard" zones.
The NFPA recommends that two pumper trucks and one ladder truck respond to the low-hazard areas such as residences and small businesses. For rural zones it suggests one pumper and one tanker.
During a typical call to a low-hazard fire in Cranbury, the first two pumper trucks to respond are from 2000 and 1981. The reserve pumper truck is from 1976. During high-hazard calls, which suggest the use of four pumper trucks and two ladder trucks, Cranbury Fire Department is assisted by neighboring fire departments.
But guidelines from NFPA suggest that all primary response vehicles manufactured prior to 1979 be retired from service and those manufactured from 1979 to 1994 be limited to reserve status only, according to Mr. Peter’s report.
In addition to wear and tear problems that come with age, the 1981 and 1976 trucks have open canopy cabs, which don’t meet safety standards.
Mr. Peters said the Insurance Service Office, which sets the insurance rates and assigns points to each apparatus would not penalize the township for using older equipment, as long as the apparatus passes service tests.
Along with the pumper trucks, the Fire Department has been using the Cranbury First Aid Squad’s 21-year-old ambulance Rescue 48 to carry extrication and rescue equipment to the scene of an accident.
"Rescue 48 is loaded to the maximum and it can’t carry safely," said Mr. Peters.
Members of the Fire Department and the First Aid Squad said they have had difficulties starting the truck.
Mr. Peters said the combination pumper/rescue truck would replace the equipment truck. The new truck would be the second pumper truck to a call, along with the 2000 pumper truck. The 25-year-old pumper truck could then be placed on reserve and the 30-year-old pumper and 21-year old ambulance would be sold.
"The combination unit will replace two units with one," said Mr. Peters. The combination truck has all the functions of a regular pumper and can carry 1,000 gallons of water in addition to the rescue and extrication equipment.

