Police, Fire & Courts

Seaside Park To Acquire New Ladder Truck for Fire Company

by
Daniel Nee
May 9, 2025

An E-One Aerial 100-foot ladder truck. (Photo: E-One)

Seaside Park officials have filed a letter of intent to purchase a new ladder truck for the Seaside Park Volunteer Fire Company, and also approved a lease-purchase agreement to acquire a specific model through a cooperative pricing organization.

Officials have said the department urgently needs a new ladder truck to replace an aging model that has experienced reliability issues. Last year, the fire company purchased a new pumper truck, which likewise replaced an aging unit. The company operates two pumper trucks and one ladder truck, as well as smaller vehicles and marine rescue equipment.

The ladder truck being replaced has been in service for many years. It is a 1992 Grumman/Telesquirt 1500-500 that was previously in service with the East Dover fire company in Toms River. Ladder trucks are among the most expensive pieces of equipment required by a fire company, however Seaside Park utilized Sourcewell, a pricing cooperative for government agencies, to purchase a new truck at a set price below its normal cost.

An E-One Aerial 100-foot ladder truck. (Photo: E-One)

The new truck will be an E-One Aerial model with a 100-foot ladder. The truck, with a single-axle rear configuration, includes a 100-foot ladder mated to a 220-foot wheelbase with an 11-foot jack. The model’s wheelbase is optimized for maneuverability on small streets and hard-to-reach areas in the coastal environment. The truck will utilize the company’s “Typhoon” cabin and includes modern safety features, such as a roll cage, anti-lock braking system and the company’s CrewGuard system which includes sensors an cameras to ensure no firefighters are injured when moving the vehicle.

The truck will cost $1,570,566 which will be paid over the course of 10 years as part of a lease-purchase agreement. The truck is being financed at a 5.29 percent interest rate.