LIVERMORE — Selectpersons Tuesday evening, Oct. 24, took time before their meeting to discuss arrival of the new firetruck.
Livermore’s new firetruck is seen Thursday evening, Oct. 19, at the scene of a car fire on the Crash Road in Livermore near the Jay town line. The new truck arrived Oct. 17. Livermore Fire Rescue
“We got the truck last Tuesday at 11 a.m.,” selectperson and fire captain Scott Richmond noted. “After training Wednesday it was put into service Thursday.”
The truck’s first call was Thursday night, he added.
“It performed beautifully,” Fire Chief Donald Castonguay said. “I would like to thank the townspeople for buying us this truck and allowing us to have the opportunity to have this piece of equipment to do our job.”
Castonguay said several items from the department’s rescue truck were put on the new truck so only one truck is needed to respond to calls.
“All the vehicle extrication equipment is now all on one truck,” Richmond stated. “For car accidents it’s huge.”
If the same truck were ordered today, it would cost $125,000 more, Richmond noted.
“And then some,” Castonguay said. Emissions will have to be changed in 2027, he stated.
Diesel engines will require improved emissions in 2027, Chair Mark Chretien explained.
“The rule sets very aggressive standards for NOx [Nitrogen Oxides] reductions and leaves engine makers precious little time to test and implement the technology required to meet the requirements,” according to the website HDT Truckinginfo.
Pierce [the Florida company the truck was ordered from] is already booking into 2026, Richmond said. Livermore Fire Rescue worked with Allegiance Fire and Rescue out of Auburn to purchase the truck, he added.
“We are thankful for the Pierce Company,” Castonguay noted. “We have had good relations with them and they have been real helpful so far.” Allegiance Fire and Rescue will come to Livermore for minor repairs, he stated.
Livermore Fire Rescue has the coldest water in Androscoggin County, Castonguay said.
“We are probably the only fire department in the state that has a built in refrigerator in the firetruck,” Richmond noted.
“We don’t like warm water,” Castonguay explained. “It’s for our drinking water.”
Richmond said warm water is better for firefighters to drink because it doesn’t cause cramping.
“If it’s warm, you don’t drink it,” Castonguay stated. “I would rather see people drink it. That is the main thing.”
A refrigerator was put in the old truck by the department after it was purchased, this truck it was factory included, Richmond said.
“[The refrigerator] really helped us out because where it sits there is a compartment right on top,” Castonguay explained. “It gives us space for all our radios, flashlights and the TIC [thermal imaging camera]. It is a four-man cab, has three seats with self-contained breathing apparatus built in. It has all LED lighting, is really bright.
“This truck is different from our other one. It has a trash line in the front for car fires, things like that, so we don’t have to pull out as much hose. Less labor is needed.”
The new truck was taken on its first call last Thursday night, a car fire on the Crash Road near the Jay town line, Richmond said.
Castonguay told selectpersons in January 2022 that ongoing electrical issues with Engine I and its not being reliable had stepped up plans to purchase a new truck.
Voters had approved $100,000 at Town Meeting in 2021 – the second installment of a three-year plan toward the purchase of a new truck. They approved the final installment during the April 26, 2022, Town Meeting.
Earlier in April 2022, voters approved buying a firetruck and financing up to $382,373 for it. Selectpersons then approved a four-year lease/purchase agreement with Androscoggin Bank. Annual installments of $101,111 would be due July 7. At the end of the agreement, the town can buy the truck for $1.
Castonguay told selectpersons the final papers for the truck were to be signed in November 2022. He expected construction would start in April with delivery in July.
In September, Richmond told the board he and Assistant Fire Chief Andrew Berry would be flying to Florida Sept. 26 to complete the final inspection on the new firetruck, which was expected to be delivered mid-October.
The new firetruck will be on display 1-4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4, at Wayside Bible Baptist Church, 1724 Federal Road, during the Trunk or Treat. That event was postponed because of the shootings in Lewiston last week.
Livermore Fire Rescue will be holding an open house in the spring for people to see the new truck, enjoy hamburgers, hot dogs and such, Castonguay said.
“We had hoped to do one earlier,” Richmond noted. “It’s hunting season, the weather is not very predictable.”
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