New Belgium fire truck arrives

The Belgium Fire Department received its new grass fire truck last week and on Tuesday installed equipment and got it ready for service. The $89,264 truck is expected to respond to nearly all calls and is able to better respond to tractor fires in fields than a fire engine. The truck has a high-pressure pump that uses foam instead of water, which can do a better job of extinguishing certain types of fires. Costs were split between the village and town according to equalized property value. The town paid $43,305 for the truck, with the village kicking in $31,695. The department is picking up the rest. Posing with the truck were (from left) Fire Chief Dan Birenbaum, Andy Olsen, Bob Makoutz and First Assistant Chief Pat Wester. Photo by Sam Arendt