While the Clayton Fire Department retired its "Old Yeller" fire engine a couple of years ago and got a newer red one, Challis has gone the opposite direction and retired "Old Red" for a newer, more reliable yellow fire engine.
The department took delivery of a 1999 engine March 27 and barely found room to park it inside the Challis Fire Hall, North Custer Fire Chief Launna Gunderson said. She had to do some serious measuring to find a bay to fit the new engine. The red 1984 engine now sits outside awaiting a surplus auction.
The new engine has a higher-capacity pump, 1,250 gallons per minute vs. 1,000 gpm for the old one, and can carry five firefighters. It’s equipped with a high-pressure deck gun that can quickly drown fires. The newer engine is the third North Custer has purchased from a small but reliable company in Wisconsin that rebuilds and sells older engines, Gunderson said