New pumper/tanker is ordered and in the production process

The Graafschap Fire Department protects a variety of different areas in Laketown and Fillmore Townships. Most of the areas do not have a municipal water system with fire hydrants, so water to fight a fire needs to be hauled in.

Tanker trucks designed primarily for water hauling are dispatched in areas with no fire hydrants to supplement the fire engines (pumpers) that deploy hoses to fight the fires. This pre-determined tactic is shared by the auto-aid departments in the area, who send tankers to their neighboring departments. Some of these mutual aid contracts have been in place for decades.

The Pumper/Tanker concept allows the truck to be used in several ways, not just as a 3,000-gallon water hauler. It can be used as a first-response fire engine when staffing levels are low. The extra water for the initial fire attack buys time for auto-aid departments to arrive and assist.

The planning for a new truck took place in the firehouse for over a year before the presentation was made to the fireboard for consideration. Due to the need to replace the 30-year-old pumper/tanker, a similar model was designed. The older truck will be moved to reserve status.