Ellsworth invests big in a new fire truck for safety updates

The city of Ellsworth decided to spend $866, 000 on a brand-new fire engine. The old one being replaced is 19 years old, making it harder to rely on. Rather than fixing the aging fleet piece by piece, the fire department is upgrading entire vehicles to avoid old equipment breaking down when it matters most. This purchase is part of a larger plan to keep fire trucks in good condition. Once the new truck arrives, it will take the place of an older engine in active service. The old engine, often needing expensive repairs, will move to the reserve fleet where it can still be used for minor emergencies. The city approved financing for this upgrade last October. After reviewing details again in April, officials confirmed the purchase in a quick vote – though two council members disagreed.The new fire truck comes from Pierce Manufacturing in Florida and is being supplied by Allegiance Fire and Rescue, a company based in New England. If the department doesn’t finalize the deal by Friday, the price might go up. The city could also sell the old truck for as much as $75, 000 to help cover costs. Ellsworth’s fire fleet isn’t getting any younger. The ambulance is the newest vehicle at just six years old, while the tanker truck is nearly three decades old. A ladder truck is 16 years old, and the other front-line engine is 14. Most fire trucks last between 10 and 15 years before needing serious upgrades or replacements. Firefighters still respond to every medical call, even if they don’t always transport patients to the hospital. Instead of holding a public bidding process, the city reached out directly to vendors for quotes. They chose the cheapest option that could be delivered in the shortest time—13 months from now. This decision has raised questions since past city contracts faced legal challenges over lack of transparency.