Waterloo Fire Department Buys $27,000 Replacement Engine

The 1996 Freightliner replaces an aging 1984 engine at Station 3 and is set to enter service after final touchups.

Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Trucks

Waterloo Fire Department Buys $27,000 Replacement Engine

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The Waterloo volunteer fire department bought a 1996 Freightliner fire engine for $27,000 to replace a 1984 Hahn engine at Station 3. The truck was found on Facebook Marketplace and brought home from Long Island, New York, and final touchups are scheduled for Saturday before it goes into service.

Why it matters

For residents of Waterloo, the purchase means a replacement for an aging engine at a time when suitable fire trucks are getting harder to find. The department says the truck gives it a more dependable vehicle that fits its needs.

The 1996 Freightliner cost $27,000 and has 23,000 miles on it, replacing a 1984 Hahn model at Station 3. The truck holds five passengers, carries a 1,000-gallon water tank, and its pump moves 1,250 gallons of water per minute.

The players

Waterloo Volunteer Fire Department

A volunteer department covering 110 square miles from three stations, with 40 active volunteer firefighters and a fleet of 10 vehicles.

Nick Kavich

A department member who flew to New York and drove the Freightliner back to Waterloo.

The details

The department located the truck on Facebook Marketplace and contacted the seller, a fire department in Long Island, New York. Nick Kavich flew to New York and drove the truck back to Waterloo the prior week. After arrival, the department performed minimal work at Station 2, servicing the engine and pump and repairing the pump.

The department was founded 53 years ago and obtained its first truck through a New York relative.
Last week, Nick Kavich flew to New York and drove the truck back to Waterloo.
Final touchups are scheduled for Saturday to make the Freightliner fully ready for service.

The Home Front

Small volunteer departments in rural areas often depend on used apparatus because new fire engines cost far more than most local budgets allow. Waterloo's purchase reflects the same squeeze that leaves older trucks in service long after their intended lifespan.

If you live in a small community served by a volunteer fire department, ask your local department how it sources and maintains its apparatus and whether public budget or fundraising support is open. Keeping a record of local emergency service contacts and station locations helps you respond quickly when help is needed.

The takeaway

A used fire engine can extend a department's service life when new equipment is out of reach, but it still needs careful inspection and servicing before it goes on the street. Residents who support their local volunteer department can help by asking about upcoming equipment needs and fundraising.