John and Betty Lou Craig recognized for generous contribution as residents get first close look at new Metalfab truck
Hartland’s new fire tanker took centre stage on Oct. 3, as residents, community leaders and well-wishers packed the fire hall for the department’s annual breakfast. The event also recognized John and Betty Lou Craig for their generous donation toward the new truck.
The breakfast ran from 6 to 10 a.m. and drew a steady crowd throughout the morning, combining the department’s long-running community fundraiser with a first close look at the new Metalfab Freightliner M2 112 Plus tanker.
Fire Chief Philip Brown said the support surrounding the truck has been tremendous.
“We’ve had tons of donations from everybody. It’s just great,” said Brown, adding firefighters have already had a chance to get a feel for the new tanker.
“So far, so good,” he said, admitting they had taken it for a little drive, including a run up the hill to see how it performed.
Pump operator Robert Taylor said the tanker can move 1,500 imperial gallons of water per minute and carries 3,000 imperial gallons in its tank. Metalfab lists 3,000 imperial gallons at the upper end of the standard capacity range for its tanker models, making Hartland’s new unit a substantial addition to the department’s fleet.
The truck is the latest chapter in a long history of community support for the Hartland Fire Department.
The department has more than 30 volunteer members and regularly relies on fundraisers such as breakfasts and 50/50 draws to help purchase fire vehicles and equipment.
The town’s books already reflected that support earlier this year. At a March council meeting, Treasurer Tina Pelkey reported $50,000 in donations toward the new fire truck and said the town was still accepting donations.
The tanker ultimately cost considerably more than Hartland first expected. The town’s 2026 budget included $400,000 for a new fire truck. Still, more recent council documents put the final cost of the Metalfab tanker at approximately $579k before tax after equipment specifications and change orders were added during the purchasing process.
Council recently approved transferring another $50,000 from the fire-truck reserve and borrowing $190,000 through the New Brunswick Municipal Finance Corporation over 10 years. The municipality is also using reserves and capital-renewal funding toward the purchase.
Tobique—Mactaquac MP Richard Bragdon attended Saturday’s breakfast and praised both the department and the community behind it.
“Hartland has a great fire department,” Bragdon said, pointing to the department’s many community activities.
He called the new truck “a tribute to the community” and said longtime former fire chief Mike Walton also deserves much of the credit.
Walton joined the Hartland Fire Department in 1975 and became chief in 1982. After the devastating 1980 downtown Hartland fire exposed shortcomings in the department’s equipment, Walton became a driving force behind improving and modernizing Hartland’s firefighting resources over the following decades. Former deputy chief Roy Reid later recalled that Walton was determined the department would never again be left without the equipment it needed.
For Brown and the department, the new tanker represents more than a major piece of equipment. It reflects years of planning, fundraising and community support — the same kind of support that filled the fire hall Saturday morning.
