WATERTOWN — The fire department’s new rescue truck will be ready to go on calls this morning.
By a 3-2 vote last month, the current City Council reversed a decision by the previous council to take the rescue truck off the road.
On Friday, Fire Chief Matthew R. Timerman said the new version of the rescue truck — an existing department Ford F-550 pickup truck — is all set to go on calls at 8 a.m. today.
“It gives us more flexibility on calls,” he said, adding that the fire department will increase the number of companies from four to five.
The rescue truck will mainly be available to go out on more serious medical and emergency calls.
Councilwoman Lisa A. Ruggiero, who voted for the new rescue truck, plans to be at the Massey Street Fire Station early this morning to see the truck go on its first call.
“I want to be there to take some photos,” she said.
The previous City Council took the heavy rescue truck off the road in January 2021 and sold the truck. It was done as a cost-saving measure and was a controversial decision.
Last week, council members voted, 3-2, to promote four firefighters to captains who will be assigned to the rescue truck.
In the coming days, Chief Timerman will be conducting interviews for the new captain positions for the rescue truck. The successful candidates will then be joining the rig in a couple of weeks, he said.
The city is in the process of purchasing $36,545 in fire extrication equipment that will be used on the new rescue truck.
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