South Windsor Town Council Approves Going Out to Bid on New Fire Truck

The Town Council on Monday unanimously approved going out to bid for the purchase of a new fire engine.

The engine, which would have, among other things, a new 1,500 gallons per minute pump, will cost $650,000, plus more for equipment, according to South Windsor Fire Chief Kevin Cooney.

The new vehicle will replace Engine 4, which was purchased by the town in 1988.

Deputy Chief Jay Knipple said that he would sell Engine 4; the last two fire engines that the town sold garnered $22,000 and $23,000. Knipple said that he would like to sell Engine 4 for a similar amount.

The proceeds from the sale will go back to the town’s general fund.

The Council, for its part, overwhelmingly supported the measure.

“This is one of the most thorough reports we’ve gotten in town,” Town Councilor Keith Yagaloff said. “We know it’s absolutely necessary.”

Deputy Mayor Gary Bazzano and Town Councilor Cindy Beaulieu commended the fire department’s staff for communicating why the department needed the new vehicle.

Beaulieu said that the department explained that the truck itself wasn’t just a necessity, but the cab would enable more firefighters to respond and better prepared.