"It's not going to cost the taxpayers anything," said Fire Chief Brian Rooney. "We're really excited about that.

"We have the money. It's there," he said, adding that some paperwork needs completion before the order is placed. The truck will be paid using a $500,000 federal grant.

The new engine replaces a 1985 Hahn, which will be used as a spare if it is deemed serviceable, Rooney said. Otherwise, it could be sold.

"They don't make them anymore," the chief said of the old truck. A fire engine is the only firefighting truck that carries water.

Firefighter Robert Whitbread, president of the Bridgeport Fire Fighters Association Local 834, said he won't miss the Hahn truck's doorless rear cab design, which exposes firefighters to severe weather.

"Any time they can get us new equipment, it's a good thing," he said. "It's about time, to be honest.

"It'll make everybody happy."

Rooney said he hopes to order the truck in a few weeks; it will take about four months to build.

Pierce Manufacturing of Appleton, Wis., was chosen for the job, based on its low bid. The company also made the city's other trucks. Rooney said a truck's useful life span is about 15 years under Connecticut's standards. After that, it can be used as a spare if serviceable.

"The city's usually been on top of it," the chief said of new trucks.

The remaining $110,000 of the grant will cover replacing several of the Fire Marshal Division's 10 vehicles.

Rooney also wants to replace three deputy chiefs' cars, two cars for the battalion chiefs and two maintenance trucks.

All of the vehicles, not including fire trucks, are about 10 years old and have 150,000 to 200,000 miles on them. "The rest of the fleet is in dire need of replacements," Rooney said.

The department also has two utility vans, which the Aquarion Water Co. donated last year, for fire inspectors' use.

The inspectors are part of the Fire Marshal Division. Aaron Leo, who covers regional issues, can be reached at 330-6222.