The New Canaan Fire Commission spent the bulk of its meeting reviewing the condition of department apparatus and planning next steps for a tanker that vendors found had leaking and corroded frame rails.

Chief (name not given) reported that the tanker was out for a radiator rebuild and that vendors recommended additional repairs to the cooling system and pump. “They reweld it,” said Speaker 7 describing vendor work on the tank; the Chief added that the leak on the top of the tank and the hose bed was being repaired and that the tank repair was covered under warranty.

The conversation shifted to the vehicle’s frame. Gallons a Night — the vendor that first discovered the problem — reported the issue to the department on 10/01/2023 and warned that continued exposure to road salt had caused triple-frame deterioration. Speaker 7 said Gallons a Night “first found the problem on 10/01/2023,” and told members the tank leak “was leaking and that's when they had … they bulleted pointed like it was a safety issue.” The Chief confirmed the tank repairs were completed under warranty but said the frame repairs were not covered and remain outstanding.

Commissioners and staff reviewed options: a full refurb to extend service life, targeted frame welding and protective coating (needling/scale and undercoating), or replacement with a new vehicle. Vendors said building a new custom apparatus can take roughly three to four years; Speaker 7 observed that a new tanker could cost well over $1.7 million, while an engine recently cost about $1.3 million. The Chief said he had placed a $1,000,000 placeholder in the capital plan for a tanker refurb (originally scheduled for FY28), and staff agreed to seek concrete price estimates from Seagrave and Gallons a Night.

Members discussed interim maintenance steps to slow corrosion, such as annual power‑wash/steam‑clean cycles, undercoating treatments and a buy‑in schedule with vendors; Speaker 7 said a vendor steam/undercoat cycle would cost roughly $500–$600 per rig. The commission also discussed facility constraints (truck dimensions relative to bay size) and the logistical challenge of scheduling major repairs while maintaining coverage.

Commissioners directed staff to collect ballpark and firm estimates from vendors and return with numbers within weeks so the department can refine the FY27/FY28 capital plan. Speaker 8 asked for “countable budget dates within the next 2 weeks,” and the group agreed to hold a special meeting to review vendor estimates and finalize priorities.

The commission emphasized the operational importance of the tanker — which staff said is a one‑of‑a‑kind vehicle with no full backup — and prioritized the tanker as the top candidate for refurbishment once quotes are in. The meeting closed with a plan to move forward with estimates and a follow‑up equipment meeting.