March 9, 2026 — The Rindge Fire Department is encouraging residents to support Article 5 at the 2026 Town Meeting, which proposes allocating $125,000 to the department’s Fire Department Equipment Capital Reserve Fund (CRF). If approved, the funding would be used to replace the department’s aging brush truck, known as 26 Brush 1, a 2000 Ford F-450 that has served as the town’s primary wildland and brush fire response vehicle for more than two decades. According to the department, the apparatus also plays a critical role in towing specialized emergency response trailers—including traffic control, hazardous materials, and ice rescue units—as well as the department’s rescue boat. Fire officials noted that the vehicle frequently responds to incidents in remote or narrow areas of town where full-size fire engines cannot easily access. The department cited National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 1900 guidelines, which recommend removing fire apparatus from service after approximately 25 years, as a key factor in the request. After 26 years of frontline service, the brush truck has experienced increasing corrosion and maintenance issues, including structural damage that previously caused it to fail a state inspection. Department officials say replacing the vehicle would not only improve safety and reliability but would also allow the town to retire an older diesel engine in favor of a cleaner, more efficient modern apparatus. The proposed funding measure has received unanimous recommendations from both the Board of Selectmen and the Budget Advisory Committee ahead of the March 10 vote.