(La Porte County, IN) - The Center Township Volunteer Department has a shiny new rig. They proudly displayed it along this week’s 4th of July Parade route.
Engine 241 is a custom-built, 36-foot-long 2023 Spenser Truck. The engine is a multi-purpose apparatus. “This is a combination truck. It’s a rescue truck and also a fire engine,” said Center Fire Captain Eric Haverstock.
“We have all of our vehicle extrication equipment on it, and we also have all of our fire suppression equipment. So we can actually do any type of rescue scenario, or we also can do firefighting activities from the truck.”
Haverstock said they just retired a 25-year-old KME engine. The new Spenser gives them more versatility.
The truck is not red, but blue, which Haverstock says is a return to tradition, not a departure form it.
“True fire trucks were always blue and white,” Haverstock said. “And we added a little red on there, so you got your American pride—red, white, and blue.”
The truck was just recently delivered. It was ordered about four years ago, then was delayed for two years due to the supply chain slowdown. It cost about $700,000, equipment and all.
