The City of West Haven Fire Department – Allingtown has placed its newly acquired Fire Pumper into service. The vehicle will be assigned as Engine #3 stationed out of the Fairfax Street Minor Park Station. The fire engine was funded almost entirely by a grant award of $571,000 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Assistance to Firefighters Grant program after submission of a 32-page application in 2020.
The unit was built by Spartan/Smeal Fire Apparatus Company of Snyder Nebraska who was selected to manufacture the apparatus through the city bid/quotation process. Three other manufacturers also submitted bids according to the detailed specifications developed by the department’s apparatus committee with the Spartan/Smeal bid being the most cost-effective option.
The unit required just over 300 days to build after signing the contract. Members of the department supervised by Deputy Fire Chief Michael Esposito completed the mounting of the required equipment and hand tools for firefighting and EMS operations.
Special features of the unit include a Cummins L9 Diesel 450 hp engine, Waterous 1500 gallon per minute centrifugal fire pump, specially designed “L” shaped 750 gallons on board water tank which provides for a lower hose bed, front bumper mounted attack line, and large supply hose connections, on board pre-piped foam system, and on-board electrical power generator. The total cost of the unit was $630,000 which the department was required to provide its cost share of 10% as per the grant program requirements. The balance of only $60,000 was paid from department funding.
The new engine is replacing a current 24-year-old unit that will be placed into reserve status and stationed at the Admiral St. firehouse. The new engine is also expected to provide a minimum of 20 years of reliable service.