The new rig purchased by the Osseo Rural Fire Department has useful upgrades not available in the 18-year-old truck it has replaced, such as a foam system.

Osseo Fire adds rescue rig

Replacement truck provides needed, helpful upgrades

by Bridget Cooke
Editor

The Osseo Rural Fire Department has received a new piece of equipment vital to their everyday efforts to rescue people from, and put out, dangerous fires in the area.

The Spartan MetroStar Chassis was a fire truck built by Custom Fire out of Osceola, Wis., is replacement for an engine in service for nearly half a century. It will take the lead of the tankers, utilized before the truck that has been used for 18 years, which is the older model that will take the place of a 47-year-old engine set for retirement. The engine has a bolted aluminum body, and includes a Waterous 1500gpm Pump, Waterous CAFS, a FoamPro 2001 Single Agent Foam System, a 1000-Gallon Water Tank, Removable Speedlay Hosebeds, Pull-Out Compartment Trays, Adjustable Shelving, a swing-out and down rear access ladder, a Will-Burt Nightscan Light Tower, Onan 15kW Hydraulic Generator. 

With an especially local connection, the paint job was a customized design by Global Finishing Solutions in Osseo.

Chief Nels Gunderson said it was a needed addition to the resources the department has available and is a good way to increase efficiency for the people who volunteer their lives to help put out dangerous fires and respond to gritty accidents.

“In every aspect, it’s just updated, state-of-the-art technology,” he said. “It’s kind of like Christmas came early. To have newer, better equipment just makes our jobs easier.”

Currently, the department is on a 15-year cycle to replace trucks. They have budgeted for the needed rescue pumper, as it is called, within their annual outline. A truck replacement is levied into their plans each year in order to first save funds for a down payment and being able to finance for the rest to fit their budget. 

“It’s been budgeted for for years,” Gunderson said, adding that the cycle of replacement will help alleviate the need for trucks such as the one they had used up until the addition of the brand new rescue pumper. 

The newer, more efficient tanker carries extrication tools in the back, a necessity during the calls out to the interstate where firefighters have to work on motor vehicles, sometimes having to cut them in half to rescue trapped passengers. Without that particular set of equipment, first responders would not be able to aid victims of car crashes. The truck also has a compressed air foam system to make water 10 times quicker and more able to take out the blaze on a house or even farm equipment. 

Gunderson noted that the system is a way to help firefighters more efficiently put out dangerous flames.

“We’re always just a tad short of manpower, so anything we can do to make our firemen more efficient is a big advantage for us,” the fire chief said. “It’s hard to measure, but we’ve already been on multiple calls with it and the truck makes us a lot more efficient.” 

The department hopes the brand new truck can serve the community and surrounding area for three decades or more. The firemen are glad to see the needed addition to their resources and have been looking forward to the new fire truck for some time.

“We really preferred to buy from a Wisconsin-based company,” Gunderson said. “We were able to secure what I call a great truck.”

He added the need for a sound truck simply because of the danger imposed on volunteer firefighters every day, adding that one of the biggest killers of the rescue workers is accidents on the way to a scene. Because of a lack of numbers due to their status--volunteer firefighters work jobs and have other responsibilities--there is nearly always a slight deficiency in numbers, making it harder on departments like theirs.

“I believe it’s just important, as a community, that we keep our volunteers with good equipment, which Osseo has always done,” Gunderson said.

The truck was brought to Osseo at the beginning of November.

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