The Gardner Fire Department has received all three apparatuses purchased three years ago, totaling $1,800,410, which were funded by grants from the American Rescue Plan Act. The vehicles were ordered in March 2022.
Gardner Fire Chief Gregory Lagoy said the city previously had only one heavy rescue truck that is almost 30 years old. He said heavy rescue trucks are the apparatus with lifesaving equipment like the Jaws of Life in case of a major car crash.
“The vehicles we are replacing are all well-worn out,” he said. “The heavy rescue truck that we have is a vintage truck from 1996, so we were in need of updating our vehicles in our fleet.”
Congresswoman Lori Trahan visited the Gardner Fire Department on Wednesday, Aug. 13, after the department finally received three brand new apparatuses purchased with $1.8 million obtained through the American Rescue Plan Act.
Why it took three years to get the vehicles
The delays in receiving the new ambulance ($300,000), fire engine ($650,000), and heavy rescue truck ($850,000) were due to high demand for large engines. Lagoy said when sizable federal funding like this one is distributed, departments all over the country start placing orders, which creates a production holdup.
Now the Gardner Fire Department has a total of 10 apparatuses ready to service residents during an emergency. Congresswoman Lori Trahan said the federal government needs to be a reliable source of funding for communities like Gardner, so the city can serve, protect, and keep the residents safe.
This article originally appeared on Gardner News: Gardner gets fire engine, ambulance paid by American Rescue Plan Act