Minonk Fire Department adds a ladder truck to its fleet

Saturday, April 12, 2014 - Posted 7:37:40 PM

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This is the 1982 ladder truck purchased by the Minonk Fire Department for $45,000.

The Minonk Fire Department has acquired a used ladder truck to add to its fleet of fire trucks. Fire Chief John Durre said the 1982 100 foot ladder truck was purchased for $45,000 from the O'Fallon Fire Department near St. Louis. Durre said the ladder truck was refurbished in 2001 and would cost over $1 million dollars to purchase a new one similar to the one purchased by the fire department. Durre added that all fire trucks are paid for and there are no loans.

Chief Durre said while the ladder truck costs $45,000 the Minonk fireman all agreed to donate their next two years salary that totals $26,000 which brings the cost down to $19,000 that would be covered by the tax payers.

Chief Durre said the purchase of the new ladder truck will improve the City's fire rating and will lower the cost of fire protection for home owners in the city. He also mentioned that a community that has over 5 buildings that are 35 feet or more in height should have a ladder truck. Minonk has more than 5 buildings that are 35 feet in height.

The only other ladder trucks in Woodford County are in Eureka which has a 75 foot ladder truck and Washburn which has a snorkel fire truck. Currently, the City's fire rating is a 5 for the city and a 9 for the rural area and the purchase of the new engine should improve that rating.

The Fire Department also has purchased a new tanker truck which has a tank capacity of 5000 gallons and is rated to last over 100 years compared to 20 years for older tankers. In addition to the new tanker truck, the department has a 3000 gallon tanker truck and a 1000 gallon pumper/tanker truck for a total of 9000 gallons. Chief Durre said 9000 gallons of water pumped at the rate of 250 gallons per minute will last 35 minutes which will give other fire departments time to arrive in case of a severe fire.

Below are pictures of the various fire trucks used by the Minonk Fire Department and a description of each.



The ladder on the ladder truck goes up to 100 foot high. Chief John Durre said several of the fireman have already gone up on the ladder at its fullest extension.



This is the bucket that can hold up to two fireman. The bucket is much safer than the older ladder trucks which had no bucket. The ladder truck costs $45,000 but is reduced by $19,000 since the Minonk Firemen all agreed to donate their next 2 years of salary to help pay for the truck. This comes out to a cost of $2250 a year or $187.50 a month over a 20 year period which is the life of most trucks.



Fire Chief John Durre sits in the ladder truck. The truck has a communication system that allows the driver to talk to fireman in the back through head phones. The truck has a 400 horsepower Detroit diesel engine and is equipped with 4 air tanks.



Above is the new 5000 gallon tanker truck purchased by the fire department for $275,000. This comes out to $13,750 a year or $1,145.83 a month over a 20 year period which is the normal life for a fire truck. The tank is guaranteed to last over 100 years.



This tanker truck was purchased in 2004 for $210,000 which over a 20 year period comes out to $10,500 a year or $875 a month. The tanker holds 3000 gallons of water.



This fire engine is a combination pumper and tanker with a capacity of 1000 gallons. It was purchased in 1992 for $190,000 which figures out to $9700 a year or $808.33 a month for 20 years.



This smaller fire truck is called the "first out" truck as it is the first truck to go to a fire or an accident. It contains the jaws of life for removing individuals from automobile accidents. It also contains a 300 gallon tank that supplies water for small fires in an an accident or a field fire.