Foley's latest addition to its firefighting fleet, a new pumper, has been put into service to address the increasing demand for emergency services in the city. The Foley Fire Department held a dedication ceremony for the new vehicle on Wednesday, May 8, at the main fire station.

Chief Joey Darby stated that the new vehicle would immediately join active service following the ceremony to meet the city's rising service demands.

“Our demand for services has increased drastically,” Darby said. “We're up about 70% over the last five years. So, we need to make sure that the trucks that we get are built the right way and that they are going to be good service trucks for us.”

The recently acquired fire truck, a custom-built 2023 Rosenbauer Minnesota Commander EXT pumper, boasts a pumping capacity of 1,500 gallons per minute and a 750-gallon water tank.

During the dedication event, firefighters, city officials and guests came together to ceremoniously push the vehicle into the station. Darby said this tradition dates back to the 1800s when horse-drawn fire engines were pushed back into the station by hand.

“This symbolically shows that we are ready for service,” Darby said.

Darby expressed gratitude to city officials for their unwavering support in securing essential equipment for the Fire Department.

“It's a great example of our mayor, council and city administration supporting us in all the things that we do to try to make sure that we have the equipment that we need to service this growing community,” Darby said.

Mayor Ralph Hellmich affirmed the city's commitment to providing the necessary resources to ensure the safety of Foley's residents.

“I think it's just an incredible day,” Hellmich said. “Our goal with the council is to provide the best equipment for the best fire department in Baldwin County.”

The process of acquiring and building a new fire truck typically spans over two years according to Darby. The project began in December 2021 with the order placement, involving collaboration with the Rosenbauer company to tailor the truck's design to Foley's specific requirements and oversee its construction in Minnesota.

Darby disclosed that the total cost of the truck was approximately $600,000, with today's equivalent estimated between $800,000 and $850,000. Additionally, equipment worth $100,000 to $150,000 will be added to the unit.

Furthermore, the Foley Fire Department has ordered another vehicle, a ladder truck, which is currently undergoing construction to further enhance the city's firefighting capabilities.