The Crookston Firefighters Association has been awarded a $75,000 grant from the Otto Bremer Trust toward the purchase of Engine 9, the first new engine to join the fleet since 2002. The Crookston Firefighters Association is a non-profit corporation that provides fire and rescue services to 13 townships and the City of Crookston.
Vice-President of the Firefighters Association Tom Fiero said, “We just found out recently that the Otto Bremer Trust supports local firefighters’ associations with grants, we filled out a pretty extensive application and were just notified that our grant application was accepted.”
Otto Bremer Trust had previously supported the Crookston Firefighters Association with a program improvement loan in 2000 for the purchase of a new tanker truck.
Engine 9 was ordered in 2018 to replace Engine 8 which was purchased in 1994. Engine 8 was purchased for $188,500, in comparison, Engine 9 will cost $450,000 when completed in early 2019. The new engine will be customized from the ground up said Jake Leas, president of the Association. “This thing rolls in as just a cab and chassis, we have a custom cab it’s fabricated piece by piece.” Fiero added this is the first custom truck the Crookston Fire Department has purchased, “this will fit what we need with the location of compartments, size, where the hoses and ladders go, hand tools and safety. It’s all designed to fit our needs.”
The new engine will be able to hold an additional 250 gallons of water giving the department a few more minutes to fight a fire. The custom cab will also allow for seven firefighters to ride in the engine, while the engine being replaced only had room for five.
The association has also received an additional $14,000 in grants from Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad, Walmart, Enbridge Pipeline and Ottertail Power Company and will continue to apply for grants. The Firefighters Association sets aside money every year to fund a future engine and they are grateful the City of Crookston has provided them with an interest-free loan for the remaining cost.
The Crookston Fire Department has a 20 to 25 replacement plan on their engines and trucks. Present trucks in the fleet include Main Hall – Engine 8 (1994), Tanker (200), Heavy Rescue Truck (1995), Grass Fire Truck with two Polaris Rangers (2009); North Station – Engine 7 (2001), Wildland Engine 4 (2002).
Crookston Firefighters Association Awarded $75,000 Grant
