Tanker 26 took place in a bay on the floor of the departmental station just north of the city. Shipshewana uses two larger tankers to fight the fires.

Ordered before the pandemic, the truck, like so many other things, was delayed due to supply issues. The pandemic has forced firefighters in Shipshewana to wait an additional five months for their new tanker to be completed and delivered.

The truck replaced an old tanker that was once part of Shipshewana’s fleet but had to be taken out of service after its water tank continued to fail despite repairs.

The new tanker is built on a Peterbilt chassis. It carries a special poly water tank wrapped in a stainless steel skin. The truck was built in South Dakota by UStanker and cost $ 413,499. Various departmental fundraisers, including a 2019 auction, helped the department raise the $ 314,000 it needed to help buy the new tanker. The Township of Newbury contributed an additional $ 74,624.25 to the costs, and the Township of Van Buren sent a check to the fire department for the remaining $ 24,874.75.

Shipshewana Fire Chief Chad Miller described the continued support his service receives from the townships and community of Shipshewana as incredible.

“It always amazes me how quickly people in this community come together to support us, and they always do a lot more than expected,” Miller said.

Newbury Township Administrator Brandie Fitch said helping to maintain a modern fire department is one of the most important roles a Township Administrator plays. Bruce Miller, the administrator of the Township of Van Buren, said it is important to help keep fire department equipment up to date.