By JOHN EBY
Dowagiac Daily News

Dowagiac City Council Monday night approved the purchase of a rescue-pumper firetruck for $406,340 from Spencer Manufacturing of southwest Michigan.

It will take eight to 12 months to manufacture the truck.

Three bids were received.

“Specifications on the firetruck actually got us looking at the fire station,” City Manager Kevin Anderson said, referring to the renovation of the old highway garage and truss manufacturing building on Wolf Street, behind the youth soccer fields in Northwest Park.
The Fire Department has moved into its new home, for which there will be an open house Oct. 10.

As Anderson advised the council July 13, “When we’re all done, we’ll have one less vehicle in the fleet” by combining a pumper and rescue truck.

The acquisition will replace a 1983 firetruck that is now more than 25 years old.