New truck for Burlington firefighters

The fire department has a new support vehicle that can respond to spills of hazardous materials and do on-site decontamination.

While the support unit will be utilized by all members of the department, it will be staffed by volunteer firefighters stationed out of headquarters.

“It’s an amazing truck,” said Phil Barry, an acting platoon chief.

He said the 36-foot long vehicle was custom-built by SVI Trucks in Colorado. It cost about $1.2 million. Barry said that while it can’t fight a fire — it does not have a water tank, pump or hose lines — the support vehicle has other features.

“It will respond to scenes by the volunteers at Station 1. Then it will be used by management, career and volunteer staff, depending on the nature of the call,” he said.

The Burlington Fire Department has 65 volunteer firefighters.

The support vehicle is replacing the volunteers’ 30-year-old vehicle.