Excerpts from the ChicagoTribune.com:

One year after announcing it was the recipient of a federal grant to purchase a new fire engine, the Park Ridge Fire Department debuted the new engine during a Sept. 11 commemoration ceremony at city hall.

The engine was purchased with a $500,000 grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, with a $50,000 match from the city, the department said last year.

It replaces a truck that was 22 years old. Last year, Fire Chief Jeff Sorensen said the aging vehicle frequently required repairs and maintenance and, because many parts were not immediately available due to its age, it was out of service for extended periods.

The new engine has better safety features, including a rear back-up camera; less diesel emissions than the older vehicle; and it is capable of pumping almost twice as much water. It is assigned to the city’s south side station at Devon and Cumberland avenues. 

Terms of the FEMA grant that allowed the department to buy the truck dictate that the 22-year-old truck cannot be sold to another fire department or emergency services agency.

Purchase bids for the truck will be sought, Sorensen added. On Sept. 18, the City Council approved an ordinance authorizing the sale or disposal of the vehicle.

Tags: Fire Chief Jeff Sorensen, new engine for Park Ridge, Park Ridge Fire Department, Pierce Enforcer fire engine