Wednesday, the Uxbridge Fire Department got a preview of its new rescue pumper when the same model of fire truck paid a visit from the Stouffville Fire Department.

Seagrave Fire Apparatus Company, based in Carleton Place, will be manufacturing the new rescue pumper at a cost of about $450,000.

The truck will take at least nine months to arrive, said Bill Lowry, sales manager for Seagrave, who was at Uxbridge's fire hall May 7. He said the truck will be built according to the specifications of the Uxbridge fire department.

The new rescue pumper has a special feature -- an extendable lighting tower that will "light up the scene" and make night work easier, said Mr. Lowry. The vehicle holds six firefighters, he added.

Also, a foam system will be installed. Foam is another substance used to knock down fires.

The current pumper truck the new unit will replace has been with the fire department since 1986. An Uxbridge policy requires the fire department to replace trucks 20 years or older. Fire Chief Scott Richardson said the old truck might be put up for sale when the new one arrives, or 75 per cent of the parts could be salvaged.