News : Garrison FD welcomes arrival of 1994 pumper truck

Eric Kakac and daughter Avery pose in front of the Garrison FD's newest pumper truck.

Garrison firemen look over the new used pumper truck that arrived New Year's Eve.

On Dec. 31, the Garrison Fire Department gathered for a celebration at the Emergency Services Building, as Jake Isbell fired up the grill and members gathered as the sun set on 2015.

But it was more than the New Year the firefighters had come to celebrate. On that evening, the celebrated a success they had worked for years to achieve – the arrival of a new pumper truck.

A fully-equipped 1994 Luverne Spartan Custom Pumper Tanker pulled into town shortly after 5 p.m., as firemen gathered to see the vehicle and its equipment. The truck -- now the biggest in the GFD fleet -- fits into the center bay with a few feet to spare.

“Imagine the little town of Garrison having something like this,” said 52-year GFD veteran and former mayor Paul Schellhase. When he started in 1963, the department had fire trucks built in 1939 and 1957.

Chief Steve Meyer said the city paid $60,000 for the vehicle, which came from Chaska, Minnesota. Two thirds of that money came from the Garrison tax fund, while firefighters raised the other $20,000 from Haunted House, Fire Prevention Week breakfasts, and other events.

“Our guys have a lot of skin in this,” said Meyer.

The department had priced brand new vehicles, but soon learned that the cheapest models available were around a quarter-million dollars, without equipment. Meyer estimated that a brand new model with all of the equipment contained in the truck that arrived last Thursday would cost close to a half million dollars.

The new arrival has a deck nozzle with a 100-yard range, something the fire department has not had before. The truck is also equipped with a hydraulic ladder lift, making it much easier to access equipment. There is also secure, inside seating for five firefighters, something else the department has not had before.

The truck is ready for use, said the Chief. Firemen plan to spend some time getting acquainted with the truck and its new equipment.

Firefighter Eric Kakac found the truck, by searching on the Internet. Garrison bought it from the Chaska, Minn., department, with the Brindlee Mountain Fire Apparatus Company serving as broker.

See more photos HERE.