Wednesday, January 13, 2016

DeKalb Receives New Pierce Tower Ladder Truck from Weston Fire Rescue (Florida)

After almost 26 years, the city of DeKalb, Illinois has replaced a ladder truck they call "Big John" with a 6-year-old used tower ladder truck from Weston Fire Rescue in Weston, Florida. The ladder truck was purchased with financial assistance from Northern Illinois University (NIU).

DeKalb Fire Department just picked up a Tower Ladder Truck from Weston Fire Rescue in Weston, Florida. The old ladder...

Posted by Emergencies Behind the Scenes on Wednesday, January 13, 2016


"Big John" was custom built for the city of DeKalb in 1989, and was named after captain John Isom, who died of cancer the year the truck was delivered.

Buying a new tower ladder truck would have cost about $1 million. Refurbishing Big John would have cost about $650,000.

The Weston tower truck was purchased in late 2008 or early 2009 with four new fire engines and five new EMS ambulances.

See also ...

The Daily Chronicle "Big John" fire truck ready to retire"

westonfl.org/media/docs/newsletters/Announcer_Feb-May_09.pdf