The Lunenburg & District Fire Department received delivery of a brand new fire truck yesterday.
Chief Darren Romkey says Engine 2 will replace an existing engine truck and a tanker truck, part of a ten-year truck replacement plan, making one less truck to maintain.
“The truck has been in the works for two years and was ordered last budget year to be delivered this year at the cost of $750,000 plus taxes,” he said.
“It will be the first engine out on calls, and carries more water than a traditional fire truck at 1,500 gallons. It carries 6 firefighters and all equipment needed for an initial attack on any kind of fire.”
The new truck is unique because it was painted in the colours black and white with gold lettering spelling HOME OF THE BLUENOSE II-instead of the traditional white over red. The new paint scheme came about by chance.
Romkey says the person who was in charge of paint jobs at the Quebec-based company who built the truck body happened to make a visit to Lunenburg and saw the Bluenose II.
“He really liked it so when he got the tender he proposed a special paint scheme that would reflect the Bluenose and Lunenburg. The font used for the lettering is the same as used on the Bluenose.”
There is no plan to paint the remaining trucks in the department but Romkey says that when it comes time to replace them he will put it to the vote.
“It will be up to them whether they want to keep going with this or whether this will be a unique truck,” he said.
Crews will be doing some training with the new truck but it is hoped it will be going out on calls by the end of the month.
