Fundraiser Ends for Culver-Union Township Fire Truck

The fundraising effort for an aerial fire truck for the Culver-Union Township Fire Department has ended.

Culver Town Manager Jonathan Leist said the fundraiser tentatively gathered a little over $169,000 of the $200,000 needed. Leist and Fire Chief Terry Wakefield still have some outstanding pledges that need to be checked to present a final total to the council.

Over 100 donations were made toward the effort.

The council members agreed to allow Wakefield to reach out to committee members to provide specifications for the truck to the company which may narrow the focus of how much more money is needed to purchase the truck and necessary equipment. He hopes to get that done in January.

As previously reported, Wakefield expressed the need for the truck as there isn’t the capacity of the current fleet to perform rescues from a building that is more than two stories tall. The aerial fire truck that Wakefield believes would be the best fit for the department is $1 million. It would replace a 1993 pumper truck. Wakefield hopes to make the transaction in 2019.