New Engine “Christened”
by Bea Peterson
With horns blaring and sirens screaming nine fire trucks from Bennington Village, Berlin, Eagle Mills, Hoosick, North Hoosick, Pittstown, West Sand Lake, White Creek and Hoosick Falls showered water on the Hoosick Falls Fire Department’s newest truck, number 17-2 on Saturday, September 6. The ceremony, called a “Wetdown,” is the Fire Department’s version of breaking a bottle of champagne over the bow of a ship, said Chief Ted Senecal. “It’s our first new truck in 17 years and replaced a 1981 model.” It has been leased to own from Wilde Fire in Mayfield, NY, for 10 years. “We have been putting away funds for it all along,” said Senecal. The truck cost about $297,000.
The engine has an eight man enclosed cab with five air pack seats. It holds 1,000 gallons of water and 30 gallons of class A foam, and has a 1,250 gallons per minute side mounted pump.╩It carries the Fire Department’s thermal imaging camera, four gas multi-meters,╩four additional air packs, 1,000 feet of 4 inch hose, 350 feet of 1 inch hose, 150 feet of 2 inch╩hose and a wide variety of other fire fighting equipment.╩
The Wetdown was followed by a cookout.