SAUGERTIES, N.Y. — Urgent discussions are underway as village trustees are asked to approve the purchase of a $1.1 million fire truck to replace a 23-year-old vehicle. This critical decision follows alarming safety concerns raised by Fire Chief Chris Mason during a Village Board meeting on December 1.
Chief Mason outlined serious issues plaguing the aging truck, including persistent air leaks and malfunctioning brakes that run off the air system. “If we don’t have air, it’s going to basically not let us go anywhere, or could cause the brakes to fail,” he warned. The vehicle’s generator, essential for powering electric tools and lights, has also been unreliable, raising concerns about firefighter safety during emergencies.
The current truck, manufactured by American LaFrance, has been a source of increasing frustration. Mason noted that parts for the outdated model are hard to come by, complicating repairs. “We’ve had to Band Aid over the years just to be able to get them passing the standardizations for our annual checks,” he said, highlighting the urgency of replacing this critical equipment.
The proposed fire truck is significantly more expensive than the last one purchased in 2015 for about $600,000. Officials attribute the increased cost to heightened safety standards and tariffs affecting the manufacturing of fire equipment. “The longer we wait to go ahead with this, the more expensive the truck’s going to be,” Mason emphasized, underscoring the financial implications of delaying the purchase.
Village officials are now considering how this investment will impact the local fire rating, which directly affects insurance rates for residents. Mayor Bill Murphy expressed concerns about future costs, stating, “The tariffs were a big factor, and we don’t know how it’s going to play out over the next three or four years. That’s the scary part.”
With safety and financial considerations at the forefront, the board plans to conduct a thorough review of the potential impact before making a final decision. The urgency of the situation is clear, as both the safety of firefighters and the economic well-being of the community hang in the balance.
Stay tuned for updates as the Saugerties Village Board prepares to make this pivotal decision that could shape the future of local fire safety and insurance costs.
