Palouse Fire Department buys used pumper-tanker

The Palouse Fire Department has found its new truck.

After a search begun last year to replace the ‘87 Pierce pumper-tanker – to keep the fleet at 30 years old or less – the department has bought a 1997 pumper-tanker from the town of Lawrenceburg, Tenn., with 1,000 gallons greater capacity and a closed, four-man cab.

The price was $88,000.

Bruce Beeson, a retired member of the department, will fly to Tennessee July 25 and drive the truck across country to Palouse.

The department will move the ladders from their ‘87 and install radios and decals, likely after harvest, so the new truck will go i...