Nahant Fire Dept. wants ladder truck

NAHANT – The Fire Department is in need of a new ladder truck to replace one it received following the Blizzard of 1978.Nahant Town Administrator Mark Cullinan said he expects a new ladder truck to cost between $650,000 and $800,000.He said Fire Chief Edward Hyde has applied for a federal grant that could pay up to 89 percent of the cost for a new ladder truck.Hyde said the department only has one ladder truck and getting a new one is a top priority for the department. Hyde said when the ladder truck breaks down, it is difficult to get replacement parts to repair it because of the age of the vehicle.?We don’t know how much longer it will be reliable due to its age and condition,” Hyde said.Hyde explained the existing ladder truck was given to the town by the federal government following the massive Blizzard of 1978, which took a toll on all town-owned vehicles.In addition to the ladder truck, the department has two pumper trucks, a special operations vehicle and an ambulance.The Fire Department has been requesting a new ladder truck for the last six years, but has been unable to purchase one due to the fiscal constraints the town is under.The Advisory and Finance Committee have recommended against borrowing money to purchase a new ladder truck, which could cost roughly $1 million.If the town receives the grant Hyde applied for, it would be up to Town Meeting to decide whether to appropriate funds to cover the costs of a ladder truck that are not covered by the grant.