When lightning struck a steel building on Decker Hutterite Colony Farm, Monday morning, May 8, Miniota Fire department was on first alert. It was a non-injury incident, said Miniota Fire Chief Nick Young, but it put their brand new fire truck to the test. Young immediately requested help from three other adjacent fire departments.
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.