THE Government has signed a US$987,822 contract with Rosenbauer for the acquisition of two new trucks for the Jamaica Fire Brigade.

The units, which are slated to be in the island by next year, will be built in Minneapolis, United States, at the facilities of Rosenbauer America.

Minister of Local Government and Community Development Desmond McKenzie; Commissioner of the Jamaica Fire Brigade, Errol Mowatt; and chief executive officer of National Safety Limited and director of Rosenbauer, Julian Templer, signed the contract at the Ministry’s Hagley Park Road offices on Thursday.

In his remarks, McKenzie said the trucks will boost the Fire Brigade’s existing fleet.

“The trucks will be pre-ordered, and they do take some time to get here (but) because of the relationship that exists between the local company and the foreign company, we are hoping that we will get it a little bit ahead of schedule,” he said.

McKenzie noted that this symbolises one of the improvements that will be undertaken to support the Jamaica Fire Brigade in executing their duties.

Other improvements, he said, include the commencement of work on one of the three new fire stations that will be constructed in St James, St Thomas and St Mary; the acquisition of safety and security gear, among other things.

Meanwhile, Commissioner Mowatt said the trucks will be deployed based on the needs of each division, when they arrive in the island.

He argued that the units will improve the capabilities of the Jamaica Fire Brigade to better respond to the needs of the citizenry.

Commissioner Mowatt informed that very shortly, a similar contract will be signed for two additional trucks.

For his part, Templer said the ‘pumper trucks’ are specifically designed for the Jamaican circumstances and the operations of the Jamaican Fire Brigade.

He pointed out that Rosenbauer’s association with Jamaica began in 1984.

Rosenbauer Minnesota, LLC, one of Rosenbauer America’s four production centres, is located in Wyoming. The plant specialises in custom vehicles, technically demanding fire service trucks, which are manufactured according to individual customer requirements.