Fire Department Ladder Truck Fails Test, Purchase to Go Before Town Meeting Voters

The Hamilton Fire Department’s ladder truck failed its annual test last week and town officials are planning to soon go before voters to get authorization to buy a new one.

Hamilton’s 1988 Emergency One Hurricane 110-foot ladder truck was bought in 2009 from Beverly for $10,000.

The truck failed the test because of heavy corrosion on the frame rails, aerial torque box, outrigger subframe mounts and body, according to a post on the town of Hamilton’s Facebook page by Information and Communication Specialist Ari Herzog. The corrosion “is severe and is attacking the structural portions of the truck,” according to the town’s announcement, adding that Fire Chief Phil Stevens suggests the town purchase a replacement truck.

Town officials did not specify whether they plan to buy a new or used truck and what the expected cost would be.

The truck’s test failure prompted the Board of Selectmen to add the issue to the agenda for its meeting on Monday, Sept. 29 at 7 p.m. at Hamilton Town Hall. Selectmen plan to “discuss purchase options with the Finance Committee” and are also expected to vote to cancel the Special Town Meeting, originally scheduled for Oct. 6. The meeting will likely be reschedule to allow time for a fire truck purchase to be added to a new Town Meeting warrant.

“Considering many of our buildings and homes constructed over the last 25 years exceed our longest 39-foot ground ladder; and that ladder reach is more important than ladder height, this is considered a public safety emergency,” according to the town’s announcement.