The city of Edgerton has ordered a new fire truck. They plan to replace their 1997 BRT pumper truck with a 2023 Rosenbauer Pumper Truck.

The purchase of this truck will help the city of Edgerton keep their current positive fire rating, which keeps insurance rates for property owners in town low.

However, it is not only citizens in city limits that benefit from the Edgerton Fire Department. The Edgerton fire department serves 152.5 sections in six townships in the four-county area. They also serve Hatfield, Trosky, and Edgerton. (Leota is technically classified as township, not a town.)

The city has looked at the revenue and expenditures for the Fire Department. Currently the city of Edgerton pays for 75 percent of the fire department costs and the other 25 percent is spread-out among the fire contract partners. However, when looking at where the calls are happening, the townships have 75 percent of the calls.

The new pumper truck will cost about $330,000, plus an additional $40,000 to outfit the truck with equipment.

The City of Edgerton has been saving for this new fire truck for several years and has accumulated $100,000 for the down payment. The fire department was able to access a federal grant for $50,000 earmarked for small rural fire departments. The Edgerton Fire Department Relief Association has raised and saved $50,000 for the fire truck already. They plan to raise an additional $30,000 from local supporters.

Other area communities have faced these same challenges. Some communities have adjusted their financial plan to extend service to rural customers. Other communities have asked townships to simply purchase a new truck, while others have regulated their old equipment to be used for rural fire services.

The current plan in Edgerton is to allocate the remaining $100,000 to the fire contract partners – the other towns and townships that the Edgerton Fire Department serves. This will be the first time the Edgerton Fire Department will be asking for a financial supplement from other entities to help update needed equipment.

The new pumper truck has been ordered from Heiman Fire Apparatus months ago, but the fire department does not expect delivery until mid-2023. The city also has another pumper, a 1974 model, which will be retired when the new truck arrives.