The City of Las Parejas in Buenos Aires received an ambulance and 110′ EONE RM aerial ladder in recent years, both from Wilmette. The story is interesting and there are several links below which tell part of it. Wilmette had originally ordered an EONE HP95 mid-mount tower ladder which was delivered and then rejected. The first link below shows a photo of the mid-mount at a ceremony in Station 26 before it was returned to the vendor and eventually replaced with an HP95 rear mount tower ladder.
Wilmette removed the sign plates on the old ladder before sending the truck overseas but otherwise all lettering and decals remained. The Las Parejas Fire Department has added their own custom sings on the ladder but has not removed any of the Wilmette lettering. Instead, they have added Wilmette embroidery to their uniforms in addition to the stitching which shows Las Parejas.
Wilmette Truck 26 an 1985 EONE Hurricane 110' RM quint prior to being removed from service and shipped to Buenos Aires. Photo by Larry Shapiro
Wilmette has sent bunker gear, hose and other surplus equipment to Las Parejas as well to assist this department with no municipal funding.
… (from the Wilmette Life, Pioneer Press) A South American city that got a donated ambulance from Wilmette last year is in line to get a major boost to its fire service from the purchase of a surplus 1985 ladder truck — if they can figure out how to get it there.” Wilmette recently acquired a new truck with the help of a $675,000 federal grant. The new truck, called a quint, is a fully modern version of the 1985 model truck it replaces. Wilmette Fire Chief James Dominik said the village was not in a position to simply give the old truck away, but its book value is a mere $30,000, and the department knew of someone who could use it much more than a resale agent.
Las Parejas is a rural community of more than 11,000 …
