On most occasions when someone buys a new vehicle, there is a characteristic “new car” smell that adds to the enjoyment. That is not how Assistant Fire Chief Joe Bielema described the scent of Morrison, IL, Fire Department’s latest purchase. He and the other Truck Committee members had returned from Monroe, WI, with a 2014 International 4400 “tender.” Such powerful water carriers are sometimes called tankers.
“It smells like tar [inside]!” he stated on Friday, February 28, 2014. This is due to the protective undercoating. Even so, there were numerous firemen, spouses, and children to welcome the new tanker into place, after 16 months of decision making and customizing.
The Truck Committee of Bielema, Barry Brown, Chairman Mark Cox, and Brian Tichler began their search for a replacement tender in November 2012. This new truck holds 2100 gallons of water and will pump 500 gallons per minute. Older MFD tenders held 2100, 1800, and 1250 gallons. The latter, a 1977 model, was sold in June 2013 to Bramm Tree Service, 204 W. North Street, Morrison.
Although the tender carries three men, one can operate all three “pump dumps” [valves] from his seat, assisted into position by a back-up camera. In the back is a square, 12″ pump dump that dispenses water. Similar dumps are on each side. The chassis was purchased at Hawkeye Truck & Trailer, 23940 Moline Road, Sterling, IL. There are warranties on the chassis and tanker body.
In August 2013, Brown and Cox delivered the basic truck to Monroe Truck Equipment, 1051 7th Street, Monroe. It became necesssary to make multiple inspection trips, as the vehicle was fabricated and customized. Monroe Truck Equipment had to
- apply undercoating
- build a water tank
- install the pump
- install emergency lights
- install the siren
- paint the exterior red and white
- apply decorative striping
- apply lettering.
The finished tender is shown before departing Monroe Truck Equipment on February 28. Left-to-right are Bielema, Brown, Monroe Truck Equipment employee Dan Christopher, Tichler, and Cox.
The MFD fleet remains at three, large-capacity tenders, in large part due to the generosity of area residents, who “help us fund our projects,” Bielema stressed. Morrison Fire Department is deeply grateful to those who attended pancake breakfasts and pork chop sales and made donations over the years.