FREEPORT — The Freeport Volunteer Fire Department is defending its recent purchase of a new fire engine, citing the condition of the old one.

“It’s broken down more than it’s running,” said Fire Chief Jeff Weaver.

Weaver said the current 2000 truck, which was bought used a couple years ago for $65,000, temporarily died a year ago while the department was responding to a car fire.

He said the truck now has computer issues hindering its performance.

Weaver said the department cannot afford to have an engine fail during an emergency.

“We have lives on the line,” he said.

The department used a $500,000 donation from a person who did not want to be identified to buy the $366,000 Spartan truck from 1st Out Specialty Vehicles in Moon Township, Allegheny County.

According to Weaver, repairs to keep the old fire engine on the road would be costly.

Mayor Jim Swartz said he was unaware of any problems with the fire engine.

“They don’t come to us,” Swartz said about the fire department.

Weaver said his previous comments about a mini-pumper being useful for tight spots was misconstrued as him saying the new engine was too big for borough streets.

“It fits the borough perfectly,” he said.

Weaver said the truck is the same size as the current engine, but has a sharp radius turn and twice the tank size with a capacity of 1,000 gallons.

The new truck is expected to be in service in late November or early December.

Swartz said the department had no business buying the truck without notifying the borough.

“They came to Freeport council after the fact,” Swartz said.

Weaver said the department had to act quickly to save $4,000 by paying the total amount up front.

“To us, $4,000 is a lot of money,” he said. “We had to jump on it.”

Swartz said the department took a risk paying the total cost up front.

“If the truck doesn’t come off the assembly line, they lose $366,000,” he said.

Weaver said the mayor and council are unjustly criticizing the department.

“They make us feel like we committed a crime,” he said.

Weaver said Swartz, who is a lifetime member due to his 20 years of active service, should be supporting the department.

“He’s totally against us,” Weaver said.

Swartz disagreed.

“I’m totally against the foolish things they do,” he said.

Swartz said the department is being mismanaged.

“It’s the worst I’ve seen it run,” he said.

Weaver accused the mayor of telling people the department is on the verge of collapse.

“The mayor is spreading the rumor that we will fold,” Weaver said.

Swartz said that could happen due to manpower issues.

“They don’t have enough people to man the equipment,” he said.

The department has 30 members, 12 of whom are active firefighters.

Weaver said the department does need more firefighters, but it faces the same problem many departments do in that regard.

The department relies on its surrounding counterparts to compensate for a lack of active members.

Swartz said if the department would cease to operate, the borough would be left without anything since the equipment is owned solely by the department.

Weaver questioned why council earlier this month refused to give the department the $205,000 in the fire equipment fund.

The chief said the department’s equipment is decades old with the most pressing need being a new rescue truck.

Swartz countered the borough should hold onto the money for now.

“Let’s get the first truck on the road,” he said.

Swartz said that fund, which received borough budget allocations each year, should be untouched until there is a real need down the road.