Clark to Purchase Two Fire Engines, Expand Firehouse

Clark Council will introduce an ordinance at their Monday meeting to purchase two new rescue pumper fire engines and expand the Raritan Road firehouse to fit one of them. 

The estimated cost of purchasing the engines is $1.3 million (which includes legal and bond costs). 

Another $400,000 is included in the ordinance for expanding the Raritan Road firehouse to fit the new rescue pumper, installing generators at the firehouses and the municipal building, and undertaking various other building improvements.

Clark Business Administrator John Laezza explained that the department asked for new equipment 15 years ago, but has had to wait patiently.

"We looked at the equipment back then and thought it was in pretty good shape," explained Laezza. "Right now, they are at year 14 and they have an old rescue vehicle and a couple of pumpers that have seen their lifetime. Now they make new equipment for departments. Because we avoided giving them a rescue vehicle, they are getting two rescue pumpers – they now make it as one whole vehicle."