GC Fire Dept. adds new pumper to its arsenal

GRUNDY CENTER – Several months ago, the Grundy Center Fire Department gained approval from the city council to purchase a new fire truck, which would replace an aging tanker from the 1980s.
The new truck – a 1998 E-One pumper that the GCFD purchased from the Norwalk Fire Department for $80,000 – arrived at the fire station last Wednesday, and has officially been put into commission.
Fire Chief Nathan Kappel said that even though the department’s new truck is a 1998, he believes it is in excellent shape.
“I initially didn’t want to go with a truck that old, but when I saw the condition of it, it looked like it could be a 2004 or 2005,” he said. “It’s in excellent condition.”
Kappel said the new pumper will replace the department’s oldest pumper; an aging model from 1989 that is becoming harder and harder to fix with parts becoming obsolete, and NFP compliances changing.
Currently, the department has a possible buyer lined up to purchase the older pumper, but they have not yet closed the deal.
Kappel said his plan is to eventually buy two more trucks to replace the department’s older trucks from 1991 and 1992.
“We don’t want to get stuck in a situation where we have a number of outdated, aging trucks at one time,” he said.
As soon as those two trucks are upgraded, he would like to get the department on a four to six year truck replacement cycle.