Mt. Vernon Register-News

Local

Related Photos

  • Woodlawn Fire Protection District Assistant Fire Chief Bill Shega shows off some of the equipment that has been put on the new engine recently purchased by the department. The engine has already been put into service for the district. TESA CULLI/REGISTER-NEWS

    images_sizedimage_042100657
February 11, 2009

Woodlawn purchases new fire engine

By TESA CULLI

tesa.culli@register-news

WOODLAWN — There is a new addition at the Woodlawn Fire Protection District, and the volunteer fire fighters are looking forward to introducing it to the community.

The district has purchased a new engine, which replaces the 31-year-old engine previously used.

“We got this one the old-fashioned way,” Chief Mike Poninski said. “We bought it.”

Many volunteer departments rely on surplus vehicles and grants to purchase new trucks and equipment, and Woodlawn has done so in the past. However, this time, the need for an engine prompted the district board to use $11,000 in earmarked funds and finance the remaining $161,000 for the engine.

“Most of what we have in service is 20 years old or older,” Assistant Fire Chief Bill Shega said. “This engine is working real well. There’s been no complaints so far.”

The engine was delivered in November and put into service in January. Firefighters have spent $1,500 of funds earned during fund-raising events to purchase equipment such as flashlights and a hose divider to put the truck into service, Shega said.

The Woodlawn Fire Protection District covers 46 square miles, including six miles of Interstate 65 and about that much of Illinois Highway 15. There are no paid positions on the all-volunteer department, which includes about 12 active firemen.

Text Only
Local