“He’s coming up Long Hill Road now,” announced one of Sebago’s firefighters over the radio, as a group of Sebago firefighters gathered expectantly at Station 1 in Center Sebago, awaiting the delivery of the Sebago Fire Department’s new Tank#1 truck. The delivery on Friday last week culminated many years of saving to replace the town’s old Tank #1.
The old Tank #1 was overdue for retirement. It had been built in 1987 on a used oil truck chassis, shortened, and rebuilt as a home-made tank truck to hall 3,800 gallons of water. Tri Tank truck company cut off the end of an oil tank and welded it onto the chassis. Abe Parker, then Sebago road agent, built the fenders. Alan Greene sanded and did the paint preparation, and David Crawford painted the truck. It has served Sebago for many years as a reliable water tanker, but it had some serious flaws that made it unsafe. The truck was mounted too high on the chassis and, as a result, it was top heavy. Driving it demanded a gentle hand to prevent a roll-over, particularly when the road edges are soft in the spring. The baffles inside the tank were not designed properly allowing
the water inside to slosh from side to side, an unsafe condition.
As part of the town’s Capital Investment Program, Sebago has been saving to replace the truck for several years and was scheduled to do so in two more years. We were successful in winning a grant through the Department of Homeland Security Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) for FY07 for $59,000 which allowed the town to move up the replacement schedule.
The Town of Sebago's new Tank #1 replaces an 1987 home-made tank truck.
Photo by Allen Crabtree
Greenwood Emergency Vehicles won the bid to build a new fire truck for the town with a combination tanker and pumper. It carries 3,300 gallons of water and has a 1,250 gpm pump, allowing it to haul water for water shuttles and double as a back up fire truck with an impressive capacity. The fabrication was monitored every step of the way by the fire department, and when delivery was announced it was a much welcomed event.
Greenwood Emergency Vehicles Regional Sales Manager Chris Champagne pulled into the parking lot of Fire Station #1 in Center Sebago with the new Tank 1 just after noon on Friday. After the Sebago Fire Department Deputy Chief Alan Greene and Sebago Town Manager Robert Nicholson received the new truck on behalf of the town, the firefighters all gathered round to inspect it and put it through its paces for the first time.
Tank1.jpg
On Friday, Sebago Fire Department Deputy Chief Alan Greene (right) and Sebago Town
Manager Robert Nicholson (center) and took delivery of the fire department’s new Tank #1
from Chris Champagne, Regional Sales Manager for Greenwood Emergency Vehicles.
Photo by Allen Crabtree
The old Tank #1 will be sold by the town, and an open house will be held in the near future to show off the new Tank #1 to the town.
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