Selectman Henry Sayers, left, Fire Chief Charlie Durfee, Selectman Robert Ericson, Selectman John Goerlach, and Deputy Chief Jeff DeChaine show off the new vehicles.

LANESBOROUGH, Mass. — In the last two years, the Fire Department has replaced three vehicles and added another.

Next year, firefighters hope to continue to modernize their vehicle fleet with a new fire truck.

"Over the last year and a half, we bought the new chief's car — a 2014 Ford Explorer — and at the same time at town meeting we were approved for $50,000 to replace our 30-year-old forestry truck, which we just got just before Christmas," Fire Chief Charlie Durfee said.

 

"The Tahoe is the old police cruiser, which is used for emergency management — Butch Garrity, the emergency management director. It will be used for emergency response, running up Mount Greylock, anywhere to shuttle more people."

 

The 2014 Ford Explorer was delivered last year. It is the first brand-new vehicle purchased for the chief. It replaces a former police cruiser with 151,000 miles on it, which was the first vehicle ever to be dedicated solely for use by the fire chief.

 

That vehicle helps the chief not only get to meetings and trainings but he can also get to the scene quickly — compared to driving a vehicle without markings and lights — and assess the type of response needed. 

 

Following that, the department was awarded a $5,000 grant from the Fireman's Fund Insurance Co. The grant helped purchased a brand-new John Deere Gator all-terrain vehicle.

 

"We got lucky to get this grant for $5,000. The people from Firemen's Fund Insurance were fantastic," Durfee said. "This gets more personnel to the scene. We didn't have a vehicle that could do that."

 

They matched that with about $8,000 the Lanesborough Firemen's Association raised through collecting bottles and cans through its "Cans for Life" fundraiser. It took nearly three years to save up their match of the grant.

 

"We were going to try and build a vehicle to help move equipment at forest fires. And, then we were able to get this grant," said Deputy Chief Jeff DeChaine. 

 

The department had a medical sled that it used to transport equipment to forest fires and rescue scenes in the woods. However, that tied up the use of the sled. The goal is to purchase a trailer to fit all of the forestry equipment and the Gator into to transport to the scene. 

 

"Our Cans for Life is money we use exclusively for rescue equipment. Even though it is a forestry piece, we will be using it in rescue situations as well," DeChaine said.

 

The 2015 Silverado replaces a 1986 GMC forestry vehicle. That was purchased by the town and the GMC is now for sale.

 

The town also gave a 2010 Chevy Tahoe to the Fire Department after decommissioning it as a police cruiser. The town purchased a new cruiser for the Police Department and spent $3,000 to switch over the lettering, computer system, and lights. The Tahoe replaces a 1983 Chevy Blazer that the town purchased years ago from military surplus.

 

Deputy Chief Jeff DeChaine, Selectman Robert Ericson, Fire Chief Charlie Durfee, Selectmen Henry Sayers, and Selectman John Goerlach show the new John Deere Gator, which the firemen's association purchased with a grant and bottles and cans and donated to the town.

"We'll use it as a mobile command center," DeChaine said.

 

The back is equipped with radios, a computer, and Internet access. It will be mostly used by the emergency manager and will serve in a number of ways — including being one of the few smaller vehicles available to transport people.

 

For example, if a hiker is rescued off Mount Greylock, the vehicle can be used to take them back to wherever they left their car.

 

"It is another tool in the tool box," Durfee said.

 

The four vehicles are owned by the town but used by the Fire Department. The Lanesborough Firemen's Association owns the building. 

 

Next year, the town is looking to buy a new fire truck. That comes at a cost of some $500,000 and by then the town will have half of that saved. Durfee said the Fire Department has applied for a grant that typically requires only a 10 percent match and he's hoping the town's additional contribution will help win it.

 

Nonetheless, the town administrator has said the truck is needed and is prepared to borrow for it. It will replace a 1986 engine.

 

"This was such a long time coming," DeChaine said of all the vehicles. 

 

DeChaine says the departments has a "meticulous" maintenance program but after 30 years, the vehicles "just wear out." And now those vehicles are being replaced.