Casey Fire District Evaluates Half-Million Dollar Pumper Truck, Seeks Grant Writing Assistance

Casey Fire Protection District Meeting | March 2026

Article Summary: The Casey Fire Protection District is exploring a major capital investment after viewing a demonstration of a new 2,100-gallon pumper truck, while simultaneously seeking personnel to help secure grant funding for critical breathing apparatuses.

Casey Fire Protection District Key Points:

• A representative from Pierce Manufacturing demonstrated a new 2,100-gallon pumper truck to the district.

• The estimated acquisition cost for the new vehicle ranges between $450,000 and $500,000.

• The district plans to offset the final purchase price by utilizing a vehicle trade-in.

• Officials are currently searching for an individual to assist with writing a grant to fund new air packs for the department.

The Casey Fire Protection District on Wednesday, March 4, 2026, began evaluating a potential half-million-dollar upgrade to its firefighting fleet following a manufacturer demonstration of a new heavy-duty pumper truck.

During the Fire Chief’s report at the regular board meeting, officials detailed a recent demonstration provided by Pierce, a prominent manufacturer of custom fire apparatus. The district was presented with a new 2,100-gallon pumper truck, a high-capacity vehicle designed to transport substantial amounts of water and pump it effectively during active fire suppression operations in areas where hydrants may be scarce.

According to the meeting minutes, the projected cost for the new Pierce pumper truck is estimated to fall between $450,000 and $500,000. To help manage the significant capital expenditure, the district noted that the final purchase price would be reduced by applying a “less trade in” value, though specific details regarding which current fleet vehicle would be traded were not disclosed in the provided meeting materials.

The potential vehicle acquisition was strictly informational during the March session, listed on the agenda simply as “New truck talk.” The board took no formal action to authorize the purchase, allowing officials time to weigh the costs and operational benefits of the large-scale apparatus.

In addition to the fleet discussion, the Fire Chief’s report highlighted an ongoing effort to upgrade the department’s internal safety equipment. The district announced it is actively “looking to find someone to write a grant” to help secure alternative funding for new air packs. Breathing apparatuses are critical, mandatory safety gear for firefighters, and securing a grant would alleviate the financial burden of replacing the expensive equipment using general district operational funds.

Meeting Briefs:

Financial Report and Expenditures:
The board formally approved the financial report and the payment of monthly bills. The district began the tracking period on February 4, 2026, with a starting balance of $112,423.38. Over the course of the month, the district recorded a total of $6,748.36 in expenditures. Following the outgoing payments, the Casey Fire Protection District reported a final remaining balance of $105,675.02 as of March 4. The motion to approve and pay the bills was made by Billy Garver, seconded by Alan Hutton, and accepted by the board.

Department Personnel Changes:
During the Fire Chief’s report, two changes to the district’s roster of firefighters were formally announced. Fireman Brian Devall was removed from the department’s roster, while Fireman Christian Weber was newly added to the ranks. No further details regarding the personnel changes were provided in the public minutes.

Facilities and Maintenance:
In a minor operational and facilities update, the district noted during the Chief’s report that a new American flag has been officially ordered for the fire station.

Prior Minutes Approved:
The board opened its voting items by reviewing the records of the previous month’s proceedings. A motion was made by Mike Sherwood and seconded by John Crouch to accept the minutes from the February 4, 2026, regular meeting as read. The board formally accepted the motion.

Adjournment:
Following the conclusion of old and new business, both of which featured no items for discussion, the board moved to end the meeting. A motion to adjourn was made by Alan Hutton and seconded by Mike Sherwood. The motion was accepted, concluding the March session.