From left, Atwood Fire Captain Randall Byrer; Fire Cheif Chad Heckaman; Prairie Township Trustee Julia Goon; Harrison Township Trustee Tracy Moyer; Assistant Chief Scott Shepherd; Fire Department Treasurer Matt Himes, and Fire Department Secretary Chris Koldyke.

ATWOOD — Township and fire officials on Saturday celebrated the arrival of a pumper tanker for the Atwood Volunteer Fire Department.

The pumper tanker replaces a smaller pumper that was built in 1973.

The new vehicle can carry 3,000 gallons of water, compared to the old truck that could haul 750 gallons, said Fire Chief Chad Heckaman.

The truck consists of a refurbished 2010 chassis and new fire apparatus.

The fire department is funded by Prairie and Harrison townships.

Cost of the truck was about $235,000, according to Prairie Township Trustee Juia Goon. An entirely new vehicle would have cost about $400,000, Heckaman said.

“It really fit our needs here in a small volunteer fire department and it saved taxpayers some money,” Heckaman said.

The purchase is the first vehicle acquisition in more than ten years.

Officials began working to replace the truck two years ago. It took about a year to assemble.

The old truck was sold at auction. Heckaman said they did not receive much money for it.

“It served us well. It was our main truck back in the 70s,” he said.