The Sioux Center Fire Department is officially putting two new emergency response vehicles into service — equipment firefighters say will improve safety, increase efficiency, and expand the department’s capabilities both in Sioux Center and across rural northwest Iowa.
The department recently added a new aerial ladder truck, known as Ladder 6, along with a new brush truck designed for grass fires, rural emergencies, and traffic control situations.
Ladder Truck’s Advanced Technology
Fire Chief Dave Van Holland discusses the “why” behind the new ladder truck and the advanced technology it is equipped with.
The chief says the technology helps firefighters quickly locate hot spots while also improving safety for crews working inside structures.
The department already operates a 101-foot aerial truck that has been in service for about 12 years. However, Van Holland says Ladder 6 was intentionally designed differently.
The new truck features a 65-foot ladder rather than a taller aerial system, allowing the department to reduce weight while incorporating the advanced infrared camera technology and remote-control capabilities. Van Holland says adding additional ladder sections would have significantly increased the truck’s weight.
Pictures of Sioux Center’s new Ladder 6 Firetruck / Photos: Sioux County Radio
Brush Truck Built for Rural Response
Alongside the aerial truck, the department also placed a new brush truck into service.
Van Holland says the vehicle will often be used for rural incidents.
The chief says the truck is better suited for rough terrain and can help prevent larger fire apparatus from becoming stuck or damaged in fields.
Firefighters also customized parts of the brush truck themselves, including mounting equipment and building a rear standing platform used while spraying water.
The Sioux Center Fire Department’s new brush truck / Photos: Sioux County Radio
Training
Van Holland says firefighters have already completed several nights of training on both vehicles ahead of their official entry into service.
The department spent three nights training personnel on the aerial truck and another two nights training on the brush truck.
The new equipment will also allow firefighters to assist with rescues in ditches or other difficult-to-access areas using ropes, baskets, and the ladder system.
Community Support Helped Fund Equipment
The aerial truck cost approximately $1.3 million, while the brush truck cost roughly $110,000.
Van Holland says the purchases were supported through a combination of city funding, support from area farmers within the fire district, and fundraising efforts by the volunteer firefighters’ association.
The Sioux Center Fire Department currently operates seven trucks total and routinely assists neighboring communities through mutual aid responses across the region.
