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New $600K fire engine for Nashua Fire Rescue

By Adam Urquhart - Staff Writer | Sep 18, 2019

NASHUA — Via a grant for nearly $600,000 in federal taxpayers’ money, Nashua Fire Rescue officials added a new truck to the fleet Tuesday morning during a ceremony at the Lake Street Fire Station.

The federal grant was awarded to Nashua Fire Rescue during this ceremony in the amount of $590,910, with which they obtained this new engine.

However, it’s no easy task to secure this Assistance to Firefighters Grant, with 2,000 awarded out of 10,000 applications, making it a competitive process.

Mayor Jim Donchess joined Fire Chief Brian Rhodes and other officials at the station. They examined the new engine, which was designed by city firefighters. Rhodes said this truck has a number of features such as hazmat booms, an onboard generator and technical rescue equipment.

“It’s a massive tool box,” Rhodes said.

Representatives from U.S. Sens. Maggie Hassan and Jeanne Shaheen, as well as U.S. Rep. Annie Kuster, all D-N.H., were in attendance to read letters on behalf of those for whom they work. Rhodes said it is incredible to receive the grant and the new truck.

“It allows us to provide our firefighters with state-of-the-art equipment, but we’re also being good stewards of the city’s money and the taxpayers’ money because we’re taking three vehicles off the road to replace it with one,” Rhodes said. “So, we’re reducing our future fiscal liability by having to replace three vehicles.”

With one vehicle able to accomplish so much, the truck will also provide assistance beyond city limits. Nashua Fire Rescue belongs to the Souhegan Mutual Fire Aid Association, which is 19 communities surrounding the city. Rhodes said Nashua is the hazmat team for them.

“Our firefighters worked together to come up with the layout, the design of the truck, and so it’s just going to be a piece of equipment that will help our firefighters, the fire department, in any kind of hazmat situation,” Donchess said.

Adam Urquhart may be contacted at 594-1206, or at aurquhart@nashuatelegraph.com.

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