Sharpsburg Volunteer Fire Department purchases new $700,000 aerial truck
May 14—To mark their 150th year in service, Sharpsburg Volunteer Fire Department bought itself a gift.
A $700,000 Spartan Metro Star 75-foot aerial truck rolled into town this month, replacing the former ladder truck that was 21 years old.
"This thing is beautiful," Chief Lou Costanzo, a volunteer for 43 years, said.
"Wow. There have been so many improvements that make it safer and more efficient."
Founded in 1871, the Sharpsburg VFD has about 15 active members that serve the borough's 3,500 residents, along with providing mutual aid to Aspinwall, Blawnox, Etna, Millvale, O'Hara and Shaler. Station 265 sits adjacent to the municipal building along Main Street.
Volunteers respond to about 300 calls a year, fire President Dennis Lane said. They specialize in structural fire suppression, motor vehicle containment and aerial operations.
"Our situation is a little different because our streets are so tight," Lane said. "This short wheel base is perfect for us because it can get into narrow spaces."
Improved safety features on the new truck include seating for six with self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) units, better ladder lighting, a larger pump and more hose.
Volunteers have not yet been on a call where they could use the new ladder truck, but both Costanzo and Lane struggled to contain their excitement showing it off.
"Look at this!" Lane said, pointing to a Ramfan portable ventilator/fan housed in a side compartment.
"It's so much lighter than the old one. It used to take two guys to carry the fan up the ladder, and when your're climbing up four floors at the high-rise, this is gonna make a difference."
Assistant Chief Mike Daniher said the new ladder truck wasn't supposed to happen this year, despite the need.
"Due to covid-19, manufacturers had a demo truck that they had for sale with deep discounts because they couldn't show the truck since fire shows nationwide were cancelled," he said.
"We had them bring the truck over and drove all our narrow streets, and it was able to navigate the streets with no problem."
The truck was originally marked at $1 million before sellers slashed about 30% from the price.
The borough's old aerial truck was sold to a fire department in Alton, N.H.
Costanzo said a 20-year loan, combined with revenue from the borough's fire tax, will cover payments.
Lane, a volunteer for 10 years and president for five, said the new truck bumped the department's ISO rating from a 5 to a 3. The mark is valuable for insurance ratings, said Lane, whose grandfather served as department president for 30 years.
Daniher said it's the first time in department history that an ISO Class 3 was acheived.
"With dedicated volunteer training and working with the borough officials and Shaler-Hampton Water, we were able to institute many changes," he said.
Only the top 15% of departments nationwide are able to achieve this, Daniher said.
"This is just really impressive for us," Lane added. "To get this new ladder truck this year, on our anniversary, it's just really neat."
Tawnya Panizzi is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Tawnya at 724-226-7726, tpanizzi@triblive.com or via Twitter .
