The Merrill Fire Department took delivery last week of a brand new water tender truck, purchased with grant money from the Bierman Family Foundation.
The tender/water tanker is used to supply the only source of water for fire apparatus operating in the rural areas where there are no fire hydrants. The new water tender will replace the department’s current water tender, a 1987 Ford 3,000-gallon tender. This unit has been in service for over 26 years.
The National Fire Protection Association recommends that a front line tender only be in front-line service for 12-15 years and in a reserve status for another 10 years.
The new truck’s increased water storage capacity and mechanical reliability, along with the larger fire pump, will improve this vehicle’s ability to support other fire engines’ firefighting capabilities.
The fire department picked up the new truck at the FDIC International training conference in Indianapolis. The truck was displayed during the event, which is the largest firefighter training conference in the world.
Fire Chief Dave Savone thanked the Bierman Family for providing the funding for the truck and numerous other pieces of equipment for the fire department.
“With this new equipment, the citizens of Merrill will be safer and will make it more desireable for business to relocate to the city of Merrill,” Savone said.