Southborough's Quint Fire Truck Progress

In September, 2009, Southborough voters approved the purchase of a 100' quint fire truck to replace Ladder 26.

Smeal Fire Apparatus of Snyder, Nebraska was awarded the bid to deliver the truck after the Town solicited requests for proposals.

This page will be used to post updates on the construction of the new ladder, which will be designated as Tower 21.

December, 2010 update:

Fire Chief John D. Mauro, Jr., Lt. James Colleary (Chair of the Fire Department Ladder Committee) and Lt. James Peltier traveled to Snyder, Nebraska for a pre construction meeting. The three met with the engineering department at Smeal to review the specifications of the new truck, and clear up any conflicts that existed in the specifications. The following are pictures of the trip:

Cab and chassis waiting for assembly at Smeal's Snyder, NE plant.

Chief Mauro and Lt. Colleary review specifications with Rich Peck of New England Fire Equipment and Apparatus, the New Negland Smeal dealer's representative.

A member of Smeal's Engineering Team and Rich Peck.

The review meeting lasted all day and was a success.

Various aerial devices under construction at Smeal's plant.

An example of Smeal's work. All work is fabricated on site.

At the time of the visit, Spencer, Massachusetts' tower was under construction at the plant. Below is a photo of Spencer's tower.

Another view of Spencer, MA's tower.

A Spartan cab & chassis similar to Southborough's was at the Smeal Factory. Members of the committee were able to go through the cab & chassis to make minor changes to Southborough's specifications.

Lt. Colleary inspects some of the fabricated ladders at the factory.

March, 2010 update:

Rich Peck of New England Fire Equipment and Apparatus sent pictures of Southborough's Tower 21 cab, which is being assembled at Spartan Motors, Inc. The cab should be mated to the chassis soon, and be delivered to Smeal in Nebraska.

April, 2010 update:

Tower 21 cab and chassis is complete, and ready for shipment to the Smeal factory in Nebraska.

July, 2010 update:

The fire pump  has been installed on the chassis, as well as the compartmentalization, torque box and turntable base. Lt. Jim Peltier and Rich Peck traveled to Nebraska on July 5, 2010 to inspect the body prior to painting, which was expected to occur this week. Once the body is painted, assembly of the fire pump piping and panel will occur, along with wiring of emergency lighting, and installation and wiring of the aerial portion.  Below are pictures taken by Lt. Peltier:

The cab, chassis and body awaits inspection.

A view from above. The turntable for the aerial will be placed in the area in the lower right of the picture.

A view of the top of the body looking forward.

Fire pump panel on the Officer's (right) side of the truck.

The water tank and foam cell awaiting installation into the truck.

August 8, 2010 update:

The truck body has been painted, the aerial fabricated and the aerial turntable base fabricated and painted...now it's time for assembly.