Edison welcomes two new engines to its fleet

Fire trucks paid for via capital budget funds

BY DAN NEWMAN Staff Writer

Above: Deputy Fire Chief Joe Szebenyi (l-r), Edison Mayor Jun Choi and Fire Chief Norman Jensen at the announcement of two new fire trucks being added to the township's fleet. Left: Edison Mayor Jun Choi at the announcement. Above: Deputy Fire Chief Joe Szebenyi (l-r), Edison Mayor Jun Choi and Fire Chief Norman Jensen at the announcement of two new fire trucks being added to the township’s fleet. Left: Edison Mayor Jun Choi at the announcement. EDISON — Two new fire engines arrived late last week and will be in the regular rotation of trucks used by week’s end.T

he two fire pumpers, Engines 4 and 6, have 750-gallon water tanks and are capable of delivering 1,500 gallons of water per minute.

“We are trying to replenish our fleet,” Fire Chief Norman Jensen said. “We’re now showing the progress we’ve been working toward for the last three years. We’ve been in rough shape for a while so we did need this.”

The township was able to save $235,000 on these trucks by purchasing new standard-programming pumpers instead of custom-designed trucks, which could eventually lead to additional costs.

“Thanks to these new trucks, we can now have a safer community and our firefighters will be much better equipped to do their jobs,” Mayor Jun Choi said.

PHOTO COURTESY OF EDISON TOWNSHIP PHOTO COURTESY OF EDISON TOWNSHIP The vehicles were paid for from 2007 and 2008 capital budget funds at a cost of $708,000. According to Choi, the vehicles were actually delivered two months ahead of schedule.

The trucks also have remote-control deck guns, more commonly known as water cannons, which will provide for better control of the unit when fighting fires.

Jensen also stated that he is looking forward to bringing more new trucks into the fleet in the near future.

“We do need to see what will happen as far as having available funds,” Jensen said.

“They are necessary and I do think we should get them. It’ll only help the firefighters to do their jobs a bit better,” Jensen said.

The trucks will be in service after firefighters receive training on the vehicles.