Bellport FD seeking voter approval for two new fire trucks

The Bellport Fire District is seeking voter approval to spend $1.88 million to replace a pair of aging pumper trucks that have been in service for a quarter century.

The plan to purchase the two new vehicles won’t require raising taxes, Bellport Fire Commissioners said at an information session on Tuesday night.

The referendum will be voted on July 18. It comes as the Bellport Volunteer Fire Department has seen an increase in the volume of calls it handles.

The department serves about 5,000 residents. It responded to nearly 380 calls in 2022, the highest number in almost 10 years, Fire District officials said.

The two trucks which the district is looking to replace were put in service in 1998 and require considerable upkeep and maintenance because of their age, officials said. It is also difficult to find replacement parts, they said.

The new vehicles are equipped with airbags and other safety features not found on the older models. In addition to improved safety, replacing older vehicles in the department’s fleet with newer models could also help reduce the cost of homeowners insurance for residents in the district, officials said.

Each of the trucks can hold up to 800 gallons of water and can pump up to 2,000 gallons per minute when hooked to a hydrant.

If voters approve the purchase, the new trucks will be ready for delivery in 14 months, officials said.

The district plans to pay for the trucks by using between $300,000 and $500,000 from reserves and financing the balance through an installment sales agreement.

Next June, the district will make the final $150,000 payment on the bond it has been playing that financed renovations to the firehouse.