of the C.A. Lynch Hose Company (photo by Robert Ford)
The village of Saugerties’ C.A. Lynch Hose Company took possession of a brand new pumper truck last week. The 2015 Pierce attack pumper takes the place of an aging 28-year-old truck.
An attack pumper is the first truck on the scene; the one that carries the hoses, a number of ladders and its own water supply, which firefighters can use to make the initial attack on the fire. It’s used to quickly knock down a fire and save a home, a building or car from being consumed by flames.
A pumper truck also feeds fire hoses from fire hydrants and can draft water from streams, ponds, creeks or swimming pools.
Chief Dave Mason said the custom-built Pierce meets all of the department’s needs and, of the half-dozen bids submitted to build the truck, this truck was in the low end.
Village treasurer Helene King said the truck cost $442,944 and trustees were able to save more than $6,000 on the cost by making an initial payment of $233,069.
Trustees have issued bond anticipation notes to finance the purchase and in the next year or two will issue 20-year bonds, King said.
The new truck’s body and chassis were built in Wisconsin to meet the fire department’s specifications, Mason said, then shipped to the Pierce plant in Florida, where the rest of the truck was assembled. It was then driven north and delivered to Saugerties last week.
Most of the hoses, ladders, and radios come from the old truck, Mason said.
“It’s a welcome addition to the department,” said Donald Hackett, village trustee and liaison to the fire department.
Residents will get to see the new truck for themselves in a few months — it will be used for the annual Christmas Candy Run.
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