09/21/2026
Introducing Our “New” Apparatus - Squad 40!
Squad 40 has received its new graphics to match the rest of our fleet, so we figured it was finally time to officially introduce the newest, or technically, “new-to-us” member of the MTFD fleet.
We took delivery of Squad 40 in late March of 2026 after purchasing it as a used apparatus. When we began looking at options, we knew we wanted to be responsible with the money entrusted to us by our taxpayers. Purchasing a quality used truck allowed us to meet an important operational need without the significantly higher cost and long build times associated with ordering a brand-new fire truck.
Squad 40 has been in service since late May and has already proven to be a great addition to our response capabilities.
Most of the time, you’ll see Squad 40 responding first to medical calls. It carries our medical equipment, including Advanced Life Support equipment, while also allowing our firefighters to bring their full personal protective equipment with them.
But one of the biggest reasons we chose this truck is because it can do much more than respond to medical calls.
Squad 40 carries a small set of vehicle extrication equipment, firefighting tools, basic rope rescue equipment, SCBAs for hazardous environments, a custom-built extension ladder, and other equipment that allows its crew to begin handling a wide variety of emergencies.
As our call volume has increased over the years, we have also experienced more occasions where multiple emergencies occur at the same time. Squad 40 gives us another capable response unit that can begin operations on almost any type of call while additional apparatus and personnel are responding.
There was also another major reason behind this purchase.
Before selecting this truck, our internal apparatus committee, made up of 10 of our full-time and part-time firefighters and fire officers, evaluated our response area and identified approximately 60 homes within Mission Township that present additional access or response challenges.
Those challenges can include long or narrow driveways, limited turnaround space, difficult terrain, water-supply concerns, and other factors that can make getting a full-size structural fire engine directly to a home difficult.
That is where Squad 40 offers us another option.
Squad 40 is considered a mini pumper. Despite being built on a much smaller Ford F-550 4x4 chassis, it carries 300 gallons of water and a 1,500 GPM fire pump, the same rated pump capacity as our full-size structural engines.
This gives our crews the ability to get a smaller, highly maneuverable apparatus closer to homes with difficult access and begin an initial fire attack while our larger apparatus establishes a sustained water supply from a hydrant, tender operation, or other water source.
In short, we weren’t looking for another truck just to add another truck to the station. We were looking for something that could fill several gaps at once; medical response, overlapping calls, difficult-access properties, rescue incidents, and initial fire attack, while making the best use of taxpayer dollars.
Squad 40 Specs:
• 2022 Fouts Brothers Ford 4x4 Commercial Mini Pumper
• Ford F-550 4x4 chassis
• 6.7L diesel engine
• 475 horsepower
• 7,695 miles
• 1,500 GPM fire pump
• 300-gallon water tank
• 15-gallon foam tank
We would like to thank our Township Board members and, most importantly, the residents and taxpayers of Mission Township who continue to support our department.
Every major purchase we make is made with the goal of improving the service we provide while being responsible with the resources entrusted to us.
We’re excited to have Squad 40 serving Mission Township for many years to come!
