Windsor Fire Department shows off new truck

Published 12:00 am Friday, January 28, 2005

Windsor Township - The wait is over for the Windsor Volunteer Fire Department.

Since opening their doors in 1965, the department has had to make due with the two original trucks built from old gasoline tankers. Throughout the years, the department used trucks they purchased from other agencies in the area.

But last Saturday, the 40 years of service and waiting paid off when they received a 2004 Ford F-550 Mini Pumper, the first new truck in the station's history.

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"This truck will be used for fast-response rescue, when the weather becomes bad and makes the roads ice and snow covered, and possibly as a third responding structure fire truck," said Don Christian, fire chief of the Windsor Fire Department.

With its high-powered diesel engine and capability to transport three firefighters, this will be the fourth truck the station has in service.

The money for this truck came from a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant. The cost of the truck as is, with everything on it, would normally cost $110,000, but thanks to Roger Mitchell of Red Hot Fire Equipment, the station was able to get it for $86,000.

"It took about a year and a half to get this truck to us. It was a lot of work but it sure was worth it," Christian said.

"This truck means so much to this station, not only is it a fire truck to these guys here at Windsor but it is also now a part of their history," Mitchell said.

The firefighters with the Windsor department hope that, with this truck, the community will get behind the department and help out when needed.

"This truck is not just for us, but it is here to help the community when they need it," Christian says. "We are hoping that maybe this will make the younger guys in our township want to join and help give back to the community."