Miniota's brand new pumper truck was part of the four-department fire fight Monday morning, and it was its first fire call for the vehicle, delivered at the end of March.

"The technology is amazing compared to the 1983 model we had before," explained Young. "The pump is a lot bigger on it. The foam capability to put with the water is computerized. It makes it very easy to apply foam (fire retardant)."

The new crew cab can also transport more firefighters to the scene.

Miniota also took its older pumper, and a mini pumper, bringing 2,500 gallons of water in total. Water was also pumped from the nearby Arrow River which flows past the end of the colony's lane. It fed four pump trucks at the scene.

"Well this will save lots of lives, and if they pay attention to the weather alerts and come here it will," Clarke said. "We are going to open it up anytime we have bad weather and welcome anybody inside who wants to get in there."

The new tornado storm shelter is located in the basement of the fire station on Lary Lake Road in Northport. It can house up to 299 people during severe weather. Chief Clarke says the facility was built with 14 inches of reinforced cement strong enough to withstand 250 mph wind speeds.

Officials need $73,000 to become current on the loan or the truck could be repossessed.

The volunteers respond to nearly 150 structure fires annually, Rawlins said. But since it also began responding to automobile fires 18 months ago, the number of calls in a year has risen to about 200, Rawlins said.