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About 100 firefighters, their families and city officials braved a lightning infused rain storm last week,  to witness a dedication event putting Lindstrom’s new fire truck into service.  Local Chaplain Chris Belfield blessed the truck and its personnel. A ceremonial first gallon of water was poured into the rig by hand, by Associate Chief Mike Gaustad, and Lindstrom Fire Chief Scott Sellman put in the radio call to 9-1-1 dispatch informing the communications center that the rig was officially live.

Lindstrom’s truck is number 4,000 to come off the General Safety/Rosenbauer Minnesota production line, according to company President Kevin Kirvida.  

The manufacturing plant is just a few miles away in Wyoming, so the truck didn’t travel far.  Kirvida also reflected on the  “deep connection” that exists between the Lindstrom firefighting community and the company that was founded by  his grandfather, and who also built Lindstrom’s very first fire truck.

General Safety became Rosenbauer’s first U.S. partner in 1995.

Chief Sellman said the black color for this new rig was a choice made by the department-- which has been transitioning Lindstrom rigs to black as the major color with accents of yellow. The newer grass-fire rig came in basically black, the chief’s utility vehicle followed and now this pumper.  Sellman said the manufacturing specifications were developed through the tireless work of firefighter committee members Gaustad, David Paehlke, Tyler Perry, Bob Shanley, Matt Lesch, Todd Bjorklund, Ian Jorgenson, and Quentin Letourneau.

The pumper truck arrives just as the aerial truck is being paid-off.  Kay Mattson, Lindstrom Director of Finance. said the city sold Equipment Certificates for $283,000 to help pay for the approximately $570,000 truck.  The remainder was available through the balance in the equipment replacement line item, and savings.  The certificates get paid off through a variety of sources, including pulltabs and Lindstrom’s mutual fire service contracts.  The certificates will require $33,000 annually in debt service.

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