We previously mentioned that the Countryside Fire Protection District in Lake County recently acquired a new IHC/US Tanker, and that the fate of their 1988 Pierce Dash tanker remained unclear. Now, thanks to a recent article from the Libertyville edition of the TribLocal, we have some clarity on what happened to the old truck.
Dennis McGuire, Jr. came across this article, which can be viewed here (with accompanying photos), and it provides a full explanation of the situation.
Countryside gives Libertyville Fire Department used tanker for free
By Amy Alderman, TribLocal reporter
The Countryside Fire Protection District in Vernon Hills is donating a 1988 water tender — a tank truck capable of carrying 2,500 gallons of water — to the Libertyville Fire Department. This move comes as part of an ongoing mutual aid agreement between the two departments, marking the third such arrangement in five years.
Under the agreement, Libertyville will continue to assist Countryside during emergencies in exchange for the used truck. “We never had a water tender before,†said Fire Chief Rich Carani. “But our district covers areas like Mettawa and Green Oaks, where many parts still lack fire hydrants, especially in the northern and southeastern regions. The need is there, but we couldn’t justify buying a new one.â€
Libertyville has relied on neighboring districts’ water tenders six to ten times annually, according to Carani. Meanwhile, neighboring departments respond to around 300 incidents — including fires, car accidents, and rescues — each year.
While the old truck is being given for free, maintenance is expected to cost the village about $1,000 per year. After purchasing a new $250,000 water tender, Countryside Fire Chief Jeff Steingart said he didn’t even consider selling the older model. “We probably would have sold it, but this agreement had more value,†he explained.
The idea of sharing resources started a year ago, when Countryside was looking for a new water tender. “We talked about how we could help each other,†Steingart said. “They use it for first response, and we keep it as a backup.â€
This kind of collaboration isn’t new. “Over the past several years, we’ve been helping each other out with calls in specific areas,†Carani noted. In 2005, Libertyville purchased a squad truck that also serves Countryside through a mutual aid agreement. And in 2007, both departments agreed to respond to every structure fire in each other’s jurisdictions.
Steingart pointed to a recent barn fire in Wauconda as a perfect example of how local agencies work together. When flames spread across three barns due to strong winds, 30 fire protection districts responded, and 14 water tenders were pooled to control the blaze. No people or animals were harmed.
“These mutual aid agreements help us get the resources we need without worrying about boundaries,†Steingart said. “The closest station responds, no matter where the call is.â€
Editor’s note: Once the tanker is properly lettered for Libertyville, we hope to capture it in action and add the images to our website, showing where it will be stationed.
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