Bland Fire Protection District on March 2 welcomed a 1991 International fire truck with a 1,500-gallon tank from Hebron Fire Department in New York to replace a 1989 Mack tanker that has been out of commission for nearly two years.

Bland Fire Chief Mark Davis said on Tuesday afternoon that the department is excited to have the backup tanker.

“That truck was bought to replace a truck that was broke down and gonna cost quite a bit of money to fix,” Davis said. “I bought it online through a truck broker. They are the same size truck as far as gallons.”

The 1989 Mack fire truck was estimated at nearly the same amount as the $32,250 purchase price of the 1991 International. The fire truck itself was $29,000, plus $1,000 for 1,000 feet of hose and another $2,250 to deliver it.

“I got a quote from three different mechanics on the first fire truck,” Davis said. “It was almost as good to replace it as trying to fix it — and (the fix) may not be right.”

Since the two trucks are basically the same build, the Bland Fire Protection District plans to salvage equipment from the 1989 Mack for the new 1991 International.

“Hopefully next month we can get some new driver training with it and get all our supplies on it,” Davis said. “It’s gonna take us a bit to get the equipment swapped and add it into service. We are trying to incorporate the Bland Bears into the wording this time. We will probably put it on the side of the truck and doors and try to get it on the passenger side ‘Home of the Bears.’”

The department has been looking for a replacement fire truck or a cheaper bid to fix its old one.

“I looked around and we were having trouble finding trucks under $50,000,” Davis said. “This one came up and it is across-the-board basically the same truck. It is the same pump and everything.”

The new pumper/tanker provides the department with two large pumper/tankers to assist with house-sized fires.

“I think we’ll be happy with it,” Davis said. “The other truck had been out of commission for two years. We needed a new pumper tanker to use for a house fire or haul extra water if need be. This one will give us a little more flexibility on what we use the truck on.”

After some of the equipment is salvaged from the old truck to the new one, Davis said the department plans to put it to auction.

“We took all of our tools and emergency lighting off of it,” Davis said. “We will probably be selling it online as well to the highest bidder.”