When three gleaming 2018 E-One Typhoon fire engines go into service this month, they’ll replace trucks that have been on front-line duty since 1982.
“What the firefighters like most about these new ones is reliability. They’re designed to take the wear and tear in the city of New Britain,” Ortiz said during a christening ceremony at fire headquarters Wednesday afternoon. ”After this, the oldest (front-line) truck in the fleet will be from 1999,” Chief Raul Ortiz said. “These trucks are amazingly beautiful,” Fire Commission Chairman Tremell Collins said. “This what we need to keep those who are keeping us safe safe as well.”
In one shot, the city replaced half of the fire department’s front-line engine fleet. Taxpayers spent about $1.8 million to put new trucks at the Engine 1, Engine 2 and Engine 5 firehouses.