Fire truck frustration Rule forces too-fast pumper to sit unused By ERIK LINDEN Journal staff writer The Clinton Volunteer Fire Department cannot use its speedy new top-of-the-line pumper truck because it is just that: too speedy. And so the $350,000 vehicle sits unused while officials figure out what to do. Fire officials yesterday said Chief Ronald J. Siarnicki will not consider making a special exception to the county standard that restricts fire trucks from exceeding 65 mph. But a county safety committee might consider relaxing the standard when it issues new recommendations next year. In the meantime, the new Clinton pumper can go at least 7 mph faster than those regulations allow. Capt. Chauncey Bowers, a fire department spokesman, said the volunteer department will most likely end up adjusting the pumper's engine to stop it from going too fast. ``They'll have to come up with a mechanical method, like changing the gear ratio," Bowers said. He added, ``For now, the speed standard still applies." Bowers said fire department officials discovered the truck's potential speed - 72 mph - when it went through an inspection several months ago. Since then, the department has used a pumper truck on loan from the county while the new pumper gathers dust. Scott Kaiser, president of the Clinton Volunteer Fire Company, said yesterday evening he has not heard from Siarnicki about how the matter will be resolved. ``But," Kaiser said, ``we want to see the truck in working shape as soon as possible." Kaiser said the truck's speed is regulated by an internal computer, and it would cost the department about $3,000 to reset the computer. Older fire trucks can have their speed restricted by using so-called governor systems on their engines. But speed on newer trucks, Kaiser said, is set by computer. Speed on fire trucks must be regulated, Bowers said, because the vehicles are ``very heavy apparatus" that carry six firefighters and often travel on residential streets. Bowers said he thinks it unlikely the safety committee will adjust the speed requirements for county fire trucks. ``I can't see why they would need to go faster than 65 mph," he said.