An increase in personnel, coupled with improved equipment and training has allowed the department to provide the city with paid on-call fire protection services on par with those of much larger, full-time departments like Cape Girardeau.

In addition, the department’s management has also kept costs low for the city, taking great care with its vehicles and equipment, making things last.

Every now and then, something needs attention. To that end, the department is currently taking bids for a new, larger rescue truck.

“Our current rescue truck we purchased in 1997,” said Assistant Fire Chief Bill Jones. “So it’s 21 years old. At the time we purchased it we thought, ‘Man, this is a big truck.’ ” 

Jones explained that in 1997, the department had purchased the vehicle to replace it first rescue truck, which was converted from an old Southwestern Bell utility truck that was donated to the department in the late 1970s. The move was exciting, Jones said. 

“The new fire engine you see in front of you is a 2018 Pierce Manufacturing Type I custom fire apparatus from Appleton, Wisconsin. This apparatus was acquired in October 2017. It is designed for reduced maintenance; increased safety; improved reliability; and additional storage. It features a 500 horsepower Detroit Diesel engine, 500 gallon water tank and 15 gallon foam tank. It took nearly a year to design and manufacture and required three separate inspection trips. Next generation TAK 4 suspension dramatically improves handling and ride quality while significantly increasing front tire life.”

As the audience gazed in admiration, Rueda briefly reviewed the day’s purpose: a traditional dedication of the vehicle.

Don Kivner has been a member of the Lake Silkworth Fire Department for 53 years.  

"There's no other place to go we are landlocked building and we are right on 29. It's a real hazard when you are pulling out with the trucks." He told us.

That will all change thanks to a $600,000 dollar federal grant. The money allows the fire company to build a new fire station just down the road.

  "It means a quicker response time." Said Chief Jerry Walker,  

The Fire chief says the current firehouse is so small...there just not enough room inside the bays for their fire trucks..

  "When we set up our apparatus in the bays now we have apparatus behind one another. If we need an engine or a truck I have to take a piece out that's parked in front of that which is time-consuming." Said Chief Walker.

The new location will eliminate that problem and allow for fire trucks to get into and out of the station much more quickly.. Marion Deangelis lives near Lake Silkworth and helped push for the grant.