The City of Newburgh Fire Department has welcomed a new apparatus to their ranks, a new Ladder 1 truck. The new ladder truck is replacing a 2005 100’ American LaFrance ladder truck and will serve as a front line/response apparatus, according to City Chief of Staff Mike Neppl.

The new 105’ ladder truck was received from Pierce Manufacturing on December 1, 2023 and will be going in service upon its return from tool mounting. That date is still unknown at this time.

According to Neppl, the total cost of the new ladder truck was $1.3 million. $950,000 of that $1.3 million came from a DASNY (Dormitory Authority of the State of New York) grant secured by the late Senator Bill Larkin, with the balance coming from the 2020 bond which was taxpayer funded. Neppl shared that the truck that was replaced will be surplused by the city.

The City of Newburgh Firefighters IAFF Local 589 issued the following statement on Facebook: “The City of Newburgh Firefighters IAFF Local 589 would like to take a moment to thank the late Senator Bill Larkin and his team for securing a $950,000.00 Grant towards this Ladder Truck. The City of Newburgh Fire Department took delivery of this 2023 Pierce Enforcer 105’ Arial. Local 589 knew how desperately a new ladder truck was needed to replace its aging 2005 and 2000 American LaFrance trucks. A grant request was submitted by Local 589 to Larkin and his team in 2018. With a little additional funding from the city, we were able to place the order with Pierce Manufacturer of a price tag around $1.2M. This truck will provide members with up-to-date DOT safety regulations, temperature controls for relief during winter and summer weather conditions, and an overall safer working platform during understaffed conditions. Thank you, Larkin Family, and thank you, Pierce manufacturing.”