Meriden Fire Nets Large Grant for New Ladder Truck

FEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, announced early Friday morning on its website that it was awarding a $600,000 grant to the Meriden's Fire Department for a new 100-foot ladder truck.

The grant – nearly three times that of any other awarded to a Connecticut fire department in the last year – will pay a large portion of the city's cost to replace a 24-year-old truck, according to Deputy Chief David Bowen.

Bowen, who worked on the deparment's grant proposal was delighted that the city had won dollars from such a competitive federal pool. The grant, he said, will make up for about half the cost of a $1.2 million new truck, and the city will put up the rest as part of capitol improvements.

The city has spent thousands of dollars each year repairing the old truck, Bowen said. 

"We have gotten a lifetime use out of it," Bowen said. "When the trucks get older, they’re very expensive to keep up. Last year we spent about $11,000 in repairs to this truck."

Any new truck will have some modern features that will bring it up to contemporary federal fire standards. Certain portions will now be enclosed to protect firefighters from the elements. The new model will also be better at navigating tighter streets, Bowen said, something firefighters learned last winter is particularly important in times when heavy snowfall narrows streets.

This grant is one of six the department has received in the last decade, totaling $1,458,673, according to a statement from the fire department. Those grants have helped the department replace its radio system in 2007 - 2008, purchase a fire education "Hazard House" and equipment for breathing apparatus. Most recently a $225,000 FEMA grant helped the department purchase a pumper truck for the Engine 3 Firehouse in 2008.

A new ladder truck would likely be housed at the Pratt Street Fire House, according to Bowen, a central location for the city. Officials are now beginning the purchasing process.