The Perry Volunteer Fire Department recently purchased a brand new vehicle. 

According to Fire Chief Grason Hill, the new truck is a 2024 model from Pierce Manufacturing as it replaces a 750 model of a 1943 Ford LaFrance. He shares that the City Council had to approve the purchase, which they did two years ago and says the truck was supposed to arrive last July, but different circumstances prevented that from happening, and they finally received it in February of 2025. 

Hill tells Raccoon Valley Radio that the truck costs $850,000 and that approximately a $600,000 grant was given to the department and the City of Perry covered the remaining balance. He highlights new features that the new truck will have for the department.

“It has a warning system built into the truck. This thing will automatically tell them that an emergency apparatus is approaching when you get within two miles of it, or if they’re heading towards one direction or the other, it will warn them ahead that there is an emergency apparatus ahead of them. Other than that, it’s got a big safety tower light on the top and it’s a six-man cab. It’s a real nice truck.”

Hill notes that the department tries to maintain their trucks to last about 30 years, and reveals that the 1943 Ford LaFrance truck will now be used during city parades as well as operate as a funeral truck.