Marblehead Fire seeking ladder truck

MARBLEHEAD – Voters will pass judgment on a new 100-foot, $1.2 million ladder truck for the fire department at the May 7 Town Meeting.The truck, which will be financed by a debt exclusion override, will be added to the firefighters? rolling stock alongside the department?s current 15-year-old, 75-foot ladder. Delivery is expected seven-eight months after the debt exclusion override vote in June.Fire Chief Jason Gilliland discussed his request with selectmen during Friday morning?s budget meeting.?It?s (the present truck) taken a lot of stress, it?s tired,” the chief said. He estimated the service lifetime of the new truck at 15 years.The current truck was manufactured in 1997. “It was the first of an era,” Gilliland said.He admitted to feeling surprised at the price tag, but he was reminded how much his 2004 Ford would cost today.The 25-foot increase in ladder height will give Marblehead the chance to reach newer town structures like the offices being built at Warwick Plaza.Ladder trucks double as fire engines. They also compensate for lower fire department manpower and a corresponding reduction in firefighters? ability to use ground ladders to fight fires.And the chief plans to keep the present ladder truck as a reserve vehicle.?Right now that truck goes out 19 percent of the time,” he said. “If I keep it in reserve it will go out 4 percent of the time and we?ll still get some life out of it as a pump and a ladder truck for a few years.”