ANNA, Texas – Last week was “Show and Tell” by Anna Fire Department as City officials were shown the department's new rescue truck.

Initially, the fire department was researching the purchase of a new rescue truck with prices ranging from $88,000 to $110,000. Due to high costs, talk turned to the possibility of buying a used truck.

The new truck/used truck question was decided in January when City Council approved to purchase from Van, Texas, a lightly used 1997 Freightliner E-one rescue truck for $55,000. Anna Fire Department personnel had made the trip to Van, evaluated the truck and determined that it would meet our needs here in Anna.

With the substantial savings on the price of the truck, the fire department requested, and Council approved, replacement of older rescue tools that were in need of constant repair. With the rescue vehicle at $55,000 and new equipment at $22,205, the total of $77,205 was a significant savings over a new truck price.

According to Fire Chief Larry Bridges, the rescue truck “is in service – we're ready to go.”