New Trailer Expands Capability

A new tool is now in the Epping Fire Department inventory thanks to a program sponsored by the State of New Hampshire Division of Forest and Lands. Under the program, Epping received a fourteen-foot enclosed trailer, which the department will use to transport its six-wheel utility vehicle and associated rescue and wildland fire equipment to incident scenes.  The Forest and Land program provides excess government vehicles and equipment to fire departments as part of its permanent loan program.

"Our six-wheel and four-wheel utility vehicles are a necessary tool in reaching areas a full-size vehicle can't access," explained Epping Fire Chief Don DeAngelis.  He noted Epping is home to several miles of recreational trails, as well as Class VI roads.  "Our utility vehicles allow us to conduct rescue operations, as well as mitigate wildland fires.  The issue has always been getting those utility vehicles to the site since they are not legal for regular road use.  This trailer alleviates that issue and enhances our response effort," noted DeAngelis.

A side benefit to the Forest and Lands program is it comes as no cost to the town.  Under the program's guidelines, equipment no longer needed by the municipality is returned to the state for redistribution.

This is the second trailer added to the department's inventory; again at no cost to the town.  Lowe's donated an open ten-foot utility trailer last year, which the department uses to transport its four-wheel utility vehicle.