Clarkson’s new pumper-tanker truck, which arrived this week, will not only benefit the city in fighting fires but also supplement needs of other assisting fire departments.

A 2010 Ferrara 1,800-gallon pumper-tanker was purchased for over $205,000, from Louisiana company Ferrara. The Assistance to Firefighters Grant took care of the brunt of the bill by awarding the Clarkson Volunteer Fire Department with $194,750.

Ferrara Regional Manager Robin Hurst explained that Clarkson paid the balance of the fee.

Clarkson City Clerk and Treasurer Alicia Hayes said money for the payment came out of the fire dues fund for the department. She added that the city had to come up with five percent of the total cost of the fire truck.

“The tanker is a dual-purpose truck with an 1,800 gallon water dump tank on it,” Hurst said. “They can dump the tank in areas with no hydrants. You take the tank off of the truck fill it up and pump water out of it. The tank can be used to shuttle back and forth to the fire scene, or help out another truck. For a residential fire, you can fight a lot of fire with it.”

By placing the truck order in 2009, the city saved $12,000 in additional fees.

“EPA made some emissions changes for engines, commercial cabs and chassis’ for 2010,” Hurst mentioned. “When we run out of the 2009 parts, we will have to go with the 2010 engines. That will be an increase of $8-18,000 depending on the dimension size of the trucks.”