LINCOLNVILLE — Lincolnville Fire Chief Don Fullington III had good news and bad news for the Select Board this week: Engine 5, which is stationed at Lincolnville Beach, has cracks in its frame and has been suddenly pulled from service.

The good news is that the town’s latest addition to the fleet arrives soon. The brand new E-1, built in New York state, will be Engine 4. A combined utility and attack truck, it will be named in honor of Neal Peabody, a longtime Lincolnville firefighter, who was instrumental in establishing the area’s former EMS service, Camden First Aid, and outfitting that service with extrication and access equipment.

The new engine, built for $460,000, will carry the town’s access equipment and be stationed at Lincolnville Center.

Its arrival is a relief to Chief Fullington, who said Dec. 29 that the fire department had responded to an above-average number of calls in 2020. Normally, the fire department handles 90 to 100 calls a year; this year, it was up to 140 calls. 

The bad news is that Engine 5, which the town has owned since 1998, was recently pulled from service after an inspection determined that it had developed two cracks, one in the frame rail, the other near a rear axle. The truck was immediately parked.

“We found that the frame is definitely damaged to the point that it is not safe to use,” Fullington told the Select Board, in a memo. “All the members have been informed that the truck is not to be used under any circumstance.”

That leaves the fire department with Engine 1, an attack truck at the center station; Engine 2, a brush/water shuttle truck at the center station; and Tanker 3, a water tanker/ attack truck at center station.

To resolve the temporary shortfall, Engine 1 has moved to the Beach Station, and Engine 2, which was supposed to be replaced by the new truck, will remain in service.

“The under sides, frame and cross members look very good,” said Fullington. “We feel E-2 will serve its purpose well until we can save the funds to replace it.”

But, he advised, the truck replacement schedule should be modified.

Generally, the town replaces one of its engines every six or seven years, tucking away $25,000 a year for that purpose.

At the Dec. 28 meeting of the Select Board, Fullington suggested the town sell Engine 5, as opposed to spending at least $50,000 to fix it. Engine 5 was due to be replaced in seven years.

“The goal was to keep Engine 5 for another seven years and Engine 2 to leave sometime next year,” said Fullington. “The smart thing would be to get rid of Engine 5 and keep 2. We will be fine for the next six or seven years.”

He explained the mechanics of the corrosion, saying the construction of the truck consists of a frame inside a frame, and on the International trucks of that year, 1998, corrosion apparently seemed between the channels and cracked frames.

“It is a salt and calcium issue,” he said.

“Is there a market for used, damaged fire vehicles like this,” asked Board Chair Ladleah Dunn.

“I don’t know,” said Fullington. “Maybe. I will ask around.”

Board member Mike Ray asked whether equipment on Engine 5 would be removed before selling the vehicle.

“We will probably strip it of anything of use,” said Fullington. That includes swapping out the tires with Engine 2, which are brand new. 

Anything useful, he said, will be stored at the fire station for later, “so we don’t have to purchase it.”

He said the sudden withdrawal of Engine 5 from service puts the fire department in a little bit of a crunch, but mutual aid from other towns will help bridge gaps.

“We are still adequately covered as far as fire attack,” he said. “We just don’t have that water getting transported back and forth to the scene. Eighty percent of the time, mutual aid trucks coming in will help with that situation.”

The new truck should be in Lincolnville over the next few weeks.

“We should have full number of trucks by the end of January,” said Fullington.

When that happens, the fire department will send Engine 2 for an inspection. Additionally, all trucks will be painted with undercoat, which is anticipated to extend their life expectancy.

Fullington agreed to research potential resale options for the town, and return to the Select Board to talk about them.

Reach Editorial Director Lynda Clancy at lyndaclancy@penbaypilot.com; 207-706-6657