Historic Truck Returns to Illinois Department

July 19, 2005
The department purchased the truck amid controversy in 1914 the same year the first station opened.

The Calumet City Fire Department will get a big part of its history back on Saturday.

The department's first fire truck, a 1914 American LaFrance engine, is expected to arrive at the station sometime Saturday afternoon.

"It's really exciting," said fire fighter Steven Botta.

Botta spearheaded an effort to track down the truck alongside fire fighter Victor Modjeski and engineer David Zielke.

The department purchased the truck amid controversy in 1914 the same year the first station opened.

The so-called "triple combination truck"

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