Woolwich Fire Department recently added a heavy-duty brush truck to its first responder fleet. Although the 1988 Chevrolet truck needs a little TLC, the price was right – free of charge.

Fire Chief Mike Demers said the truck was one of two firefighting vehicles leftover from Brunswick Naval Air Station’s closure. “I heard they were going to be auctioned off but then learned they’d be given free to a municipality,” he said.

The offer came with two conditions, added Chief Demers. “If the vehicles were needed at a future air show, the municipality would have to agree to provide it for coverage, and if they were ever sold, Brunswick Landing had first refusal.”

The truck is gasoline-driven, equipped with four-wheel drive and has an automatic transmission. Its tank has a water capacity of 500 gallons making it an ideal emergency vehicle  to fight an off-road fire.

“The best thing is it has less than 7,000 miles on it and it’s been stored indoors so the body is in very good shape,” continued Demers. “The guys have been down here almost every night since it arrived buffing the body and working on the engine.”

Four firefighters at work Monday were Max Anderson, Aaron Gagnon, Robert Nibarger and Don Munsey.

Mid-Coast Excavation, Inc. of West Bath donated a truck, trailer and driver to haul the truck from Brunswick to the Woolwich fire station.

The community can a look at the new truck – with its shiny, bright green body – at Wednesday night’s fire department open house from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Woolwich fire station. “It’s parked inside the station and people are welcome to come and take a look,” added Demers. Along with fire prevention activities, the open house includes hot dogs, popcorn and a Bounce House for the kids. Demers said he has also arranged to have a working antique, hand-pumped fire truck offering demonstrations.