 The Bemidji Fire Department received a major upgrade to one of its fire trucks. Last week, the city added a new water tender to its fleet of fire trucks. The new truck was part of the department's 2017 Capital Improvement Plan. The plan replaces trucks as they reach 25 to 30 years old. Because of the size of the area the Bemidji Fire Department covers, water tenders are a crucial tool. The majority of our service area does require us to shuttle or haul water. So water tenders are a very important part of our operation. The Bemidji Fire Department runs three water tenders in our operation. And then we have the ability through our mutual aid partners to bring in additional water tenders if we would have to have more water on a fire scene. In 2019, the department plans to add a new ladder truck to its fleet. If you enjoyed this segment of Lakeland News, please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to Lakeland PBS.