Village of Homer Board of Trustees to Vote on New Fire Truck During Next Meeting

The Village of Homer Board of Trustees is expected to vote on the purchase of a new fire truck for the Homer Fire Department during their next meeting on Tuesday, July 22nd at 6pm. Homer Mayor Pat Clune and Trustee Ed Porter recently held a workshop with Homer Fire Chief Riley regarding the new truck and future apparatus replacements. Chief Riley says the department has been given a quote by the manufacturer of the truck, which is good for 30 days after Tuesday’s meeting.

Chief Riley spoke to the board on the fire department’s current apparatus replacement plan and the phases for replacement. Last year was phase one with the department replacing their 2001 rescue truck with a new one. The new Rescue 2 truck primarily serves as a rescue truck, but has the capabilities to respond to other calls. 

Phase 2 would replace Homer Fires aging brush truck, 511, and Engine 501. The planned replacement truck would be an International chassis mini-pumper with a custom built body suited for the Homer Fire Department. The truck will have the same pump as a full-sized engine, a class-A 1500 gallon per-minute pump, a 320 gallon tank, and all the equipment needed for the department. Chief Riley says the truck would have everything you’d expect to see on a full-sized fire engine and the same capabilities, but at a significantly less cost to taxpayers and more versatility. The truck would also be able to cross the Pine Street bridge safely in the event the Albany Street bridge is closed.

Riley continued on saying the fire department looked at other options and found the International chassis would be best suited for the department. He noted the International is a simple 3-step process for the pumper; another option had a 14-step with a risk for error if the parking brake is hit during the process. The International would also be similar to Engine 502, Homer Fires primary engine, in terms of the process for the pump. 

Total cost for the new mini-pumper would be $520,798. Payment wouldn’t be required until 30 days after delivery of the new truck. Chief Riley says the timeframe of when the truck would be delivered is between 12 and 18 months. If the Homer Fire Department looked to replace 501 with a full-size engine, it would’ve cost the department at least $1.1 million dollars. The truck would be built in Hamburg, New York.

Approval by the Board of Trustees during their next meeting would lock-in the cost of the truck at $520,798. Mayor Clune says the vote will take place during their next meeting to have further discussions and to  allow any Trustees who may have questions regarding the truck be answered.