Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By NOAH WORTHAM | Staff Writer

CHELSEA – After a two year wait, the Chelsea Fire Department has received three new fire engines with one of them already in service to the public.

The Chelsea Fire Department brought its three new fire engines to City Hall to present it to the councilmembers and those in attendance on Tuesday. Dec 4.

“The number one job of the government is to keep the people safe, and so I think this really helps fulfill our responsibility to do the best we can to make sure that our heroes have the equipment they need to do the job well,” Chelsea Mayor Tony Picklesimer said.

The fire engines were first purchased back on Oct. 5, 2021 as part of the city’s 2021-2022 budget.

“Two years it took to get them—we’re excited to have them,” Picklesimer said. “They are available largely in part of the ARPA funds that were made available during the pandemic. We feel like we put ours to the greatest and possible use by putting new trucks in service to give our guys the latest equipment to work with.”

The new fire engines are named 31, 32 and 33 respectively and Fire Engine 31 is already being used to service the community.

Part of the reason for the purchase was due to the age of the fire department’s previous vehicles.

“We kept them running as long as we could,” Fire Chief Joe Lee said. “They have a long life and it’s time to replace them. So, we’re so thankful, it’s been a long two years waiting for these trucks.”

During the council meeting, Lee thanked Deputy Fire Chief Jeff Russell and Captain of Training William Ricketts for their work.

“I’m really proud of these guys, they worked really hard, they did a really good job of speccing these work trucks. We don’t want anybody’s house to burn obviously but we want to be prepared and these are tools for when we need to protect lives and property.”

Lee also thanked the Chelsea City Council for their purchase of the new vehicles.

“I would like to say, ‘Thank you’ to all of you on the council for giving us the opportunity to have this. It’s a boost to public safety,” Lee said.

Lee announced that the new trucks will make an appearance in Chelsea Christmas Parade which will take place on Saturday, Dec. 16.