Sangerville fire chief warns aging tanker could force urgent replacement; grants cover equipment but not apparatus

Sangerville’s fire leadership told the town meeting the department’s tanker and an older pumper are approaching the end of their usable lives and that buying a single new apparatus to replace two aging vehicles is likely the most economical long-term option.

The fire chief told attendees the department runs four frontline vehicles; the tanker — adapted from an over-the-road chassis — has roughly 400,000 miles and an engine that "leaks oil faster than we can put it in." He said, "if we order a truck on this date, we're looking at 18 months to two years to receive that truck," adding that a new apparatus spec'd to replace both vehicles is roughly $580,000 while used options that meet the town's requirements are scarce.

Board members and residents asked about grant possibilities. The chief said the department has pursued the FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant and had applied previously for $600,000 in an earlier round, but they have not succeeded in receiving truck-specific grants. He reported recent success on other grants totaling about $96,000 this year and roughly $200,000 over the last two years, which funded breathing apparatus and turnout gear.

The assembly discussed options including bonding, reserve funds, and consolidation of apparatus. The chief noted that the tanker is regularly used and that prolonged failure could jeopardize response capabilities.

The select board asked staff to continue working with the fire department to outline funding scenarios and noted any large capital plan would return to voters for appropriation.