Two new pieces of fire apparatus have recently arrived at the Chelsea Fire Department. Currently, both are undergoing outfitting and preparation before entering service.
This week, the Chelsea Fire Department (CFD) took delivery of two new fire vehicles. Equipment installation is underway on both units, with service expected to begin later this month.
The new Ladder 2 is the first addition. It will replace a 1999 aerial apparatus stationed at Mill Hill Station on Broadway. Purchased through the City’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP), this new truck is currently being customized with specialized equipment and undergoing training procedures. The department expects to have it operational by the end of November.
Having this new ladder truck provides the department with an important backup aerial device. When a primary ladder truck requires maintenance or repairs, this spare can be deployed, offering significant safety benefits to the community.
The second new vehicle is Rescue 1, which will take the place of the current Squad 5 and a step van previously used for Special Operations.
Fire Chief Len Albanese obtained this Rescue through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program.
The $600,000 Rescue was secured with only a 10 percent cost-share from the City. Special Operations equipment will outfit this truck, with most items provided through the Metro Boston Urban Area Strategic Initiative (UASI) program. As part of regional preparedness efforts, Chelsea maintains a specialty in Technical Search for structural collapse.
For regional response situations, the new Rescue will enable rapid deployment of substantial equipment to incident scenes. Customization of this truck will begin once the Ladder project is complete. Following additional training, the project should be finished by year’s end or earlier.
The department anticipates eventually staffing this Rescue with eight additional firefighters obtained through the SAFER Grant expansion.
Currently, it will operate unmanned and be dispatched as needed, following the same deployment model used for Squad 5.
“My goal with the SAFER grant that provided eight additional firefighters and the acquisition of the Rescue was to get more boots on the ground in the field and eventually get the Rescue staffed,” said Chief Albanese. “The city manager and the council have made a commitment to support funding for these projects. Time will tell if we are able to bring this goal to fruition within our budget. There are several factors that will affect that possibility.”