Artie Arrives! Belmar Fire Department welcomes new “Quint” truck

May 15, 2009 by admin
Filed under Belmar Updates

Belmar’s new fire truck was delivered on Thursday, May 14, 2009 to the Belmar Hook & Ladder Co. At the suggestion of Hook & Ladder Chief Joseph Rizzitello, the truck has been nicknamed “Artie,” in honor of Edward “Artie” McCormick, a 30-year Borough employee and life member of the Hook & Ladder Fire Co. Known as a “Quint” for its multi-purpose configuration, the 2009 Pierce truck is equipped with both a 105-foot aerial ladder and a 2000 gallon-per-minute pump. Artie will play a dual role in the Belmar Fire Department, replacing the Borough’s existing problem-plagued ladder truck while also serving as an additional pumper for the Borough. Through the talented grant-writing efforts of Belmar’s then Fire Administrator, John Rizzitello, the Borough received a $565,000 grant through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) toward the purchase of the truck. The Mayor & Council adopted bond Ordinance 2008-18 to fund the approximately $150,000 difference between the FEMA grant and the price of the truck and related costs, which included a new garage door for the Hook & Ladder Fire House.