Essex Fire & Rescue is in need of a new Fire Engine at Station 3 in Harrow, which is the primary response vehicle at the Town of Essex’s busiest station.
Engine 3 accounts for approximately 35% of all repair and maintenance costs at Station 3, which houses five apparatuses.
Engaging in the procurement process within the 2025 calendar year would allow the Town to secure a build slot and lock in current pricing, avoiding an anticipated 6%, or $78,000, price increase next year, Essex Fire Chief Jason Pillon, explained.
He asked Essex Council to provide pre-approval of the 2026 budget for $1.3M to replace this pumper, a critical part of Essex Fire’s response fleet. This would allow the local Fire Department to begin the procurement process.
Essex Council supported the request, and voted to draw the funds from the Town’s Asset Management Reserve, which CAO Kate Giurissevich explained is tied to the Asset Management Study that recommends certain increases each year. That is reflected during budget time.
Asset Management Plans provide a process for the operation, maintenance, upgrade, and ultimately disposal or replacement of municipal physical infrastructure and assets.
That reserve is at sufficient levels to fund around five-years of studies.
Pillon explained Essex Fire Engine 3 needs to be replaced as it will reach 20-years of service in 2026, and is due to be replaced as it reaches its end-of-life cycle. He explained that frontline pumpers need to be replaced at that 20-year mark to maintain operational reliability and insurance grading standards.
In addition to its age, Pillon noted this fire truck is an American LaFrance model, manufactured by a company no longer in production. That is making many of its replacement parts now obsolete, costly, and difficult to source.
“As a result, the truck has experienced repeated mechanical issues, and a prolonged out-of-service-period, impacting emergency response readiness,” Pillon said.
“In recent years, when Engine 3 has required service, it has frequently been out of operation for extended periods due to delays in obtaining parts. There is growing concern that a future mechanical failure could involve a critical component that is no longer available, potentially rendering the apparatus permanently inoperable,” Pillon wrote in his report.
The cost to maintain the truck is rising, Pillon added. In 2023, repairs totalled $9,100, including towing, due to an electrical failure. In 2024, costs reached $6,500. For 2025, several additional repairs have been identified, with an estimated total cost of around $4,000, subject to technician availability.
In 2026, the projected cost for maintenance and any related repairs is anticipated to range between $12,000 and $15,000.
“Delaying replacement would result in continued higher repair expenses and could further delay delivery [of the new truck] into 2027,” he said.
The replacement of Engine 3 has been planned as a 2026 capital project and has been included in the Town’s five-year capital forecast since 2021.
Pillon noted the Request For Tender (RFT) will note no payment will be made until the fire truck is delivered in 2026.
Councillor Katie McGuire-Blais was not saying “no,” to the request, but expressed her dislike for pre-budget approvals, “especially knowing we are going into an election year. Budgets are already going to be tight. We don’t want to see a huge budget increase.”
She realized this had to be done and is a non-budget item as it will be funded through reserve.McGuire-Blais did not want it to become a theme to have pre-budget approvals coming to Council.“I understand this is a need, not a want.”
Deputy Mayor Rob Shepley also had concern when he saw this on the agenda, but noted this happens often at the County-level for its EMS fleet replacement.He understood, and supported the request.
“It’s a required asset, and for those services, we don’t want to wait and pay a higher price,” Shepley said.
Mayor Sherry Bondy, as the one who sets the agendas, welcomes pre-budget submissions from the Fire Department, if it will help protect residents.
“When it comes to the safety of our residents, and our Firefighters – I am sure that they need this – then that is something I welcome coming to an agenda.” Council members always have an option to vote opposed to any item on the agenda, if they feel the need to.
“I think it is progressive. I think it is visionary.”
As someone who has been on Council for quite a few years, she likes to see the proactive nature of reports like this.