The Riverside (IA) Fire Department has upgraded one of the trucks in its fleet, KCIIRadio.com reported. The department paid $85,000 for a new brush truck.
The truck’s primary function is to assist in the suppression of brush and/or wildfires. It is a pick-up style truck with four-wheel drive and a tank. The new truck allows them to move more easily in fields and on softer terrain. The new truck also includes a remote-controlled nozzle that allows firefighters to fight fires from inside the firetruck’s cab, the report said.
This is in contrast to the old brush truck they had for the past 30 years, which forced the firefighters to ride on the outside, putting their safety at risk, according to the report.
The $85,000, which included decals, graphics, lights, and other features, came from the department’s taxation fund, which is supported by Riverside and the other townships it serves. RESA, their non-profit organization, also contributed to the purchase of the new truck (Riverside Emergency Service Association).
