Puget Island Fire Department welcomes "New" Tender

The Puget Island Fire Department is welcoming a new addition to its fire station on SR409. The volunteer crew on Puget Island has been operating two older vehicles on their fire calls, one of them more than 40 years old. This 2009 pumper, driven in from Kelso and already with a few years of service under its belt, represents a monumental leap forward.

If you’re from the East Coast, you might call a water-carrying fire truck a tanker. However, here on the West Coast, a vehicle that carries water is strictly known as a tender. Also, any fire vehicle is referred to as an apparatus. Purchased for around $74,000 from Cowlitz Fire District 2, the 17-year-old apparatus isn’t straight off the factory floor. Still, it was an opportunity not to be passed up. “We wanted to buy an engine that would best suit our community and be the most cost efficient,” says Fire Chief Mike Beutler. This vehicle is well adapted for the needs of Puget Island and represents the final chapter of a little-known local legacy.

The arrival of this latest unit marks a necessary evolution in the department’s assets. The current front-line apparatus dates back to 1986. While it’s been carefully maintained, its age has become a liability. In an industry where the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends retiring frontline engines after 15 to 25 years, the 1986 truck is a relic for which replacement parts—especially for the chassis and drivetrain—are no longer available.

The new truck, built on a GM Duramax diesel chassis, is well adapted to the island’s geography and the types of calls the department receives. While its 300-gallon water tank is smaller than previous vehicles, it is "fit for purpose" for the roughly 30 calls the department receives annually. Despite the reduction in volume, the latest technology on the truck makes up for the rest. Featuring a Compressed Air Foam System (CAFS) injecting air and foam into the line, 300 gallons of water can perform like 1,000. Unlike the "semi-truck" feel of the older engines, this 4WD apparatus handles like a large pickup, making it easier for crew members to drive. Finally, the four-door cab allows a full crew to travel in gear, while roll-up doors and swing-out toolboards provide faster and safer access to axes, extinguishers, and heavy equipment.

The decision to buy used wasn't a preference; it was a financial necessity. For a department with a total annual budget of roughly $69,000, a new truck is a mathematical impossibility. A brand-new fire engine today can easily cost between $500,000 and $1,000,000, with wait times stretching three to four years due to industry-wide manufacturing delays and rising costs. The $74,000 price tag for the Cowlitz unit is practically the value of the CAFS system alone on a new build.

While some funds came from department savings and auxiliary donations, the majority was funded by the estate of former Puget Island residents Aileen and Warren E. Buffington. Aileen originated from Boston and was a figure skater, model and dancer in the 30s. After some time in hospital administration in Los Angeles, she later owned commercial tuna boats. Warren, a WWII Army veteran, miner, machinist, and steel boat builder, hailed from Montana and finally met his wife in California where he, too, fished. They were an adventurous couple and, together, they sailed the Washington, Oregon and California coast. In 1958, they chose the island as their final harbor and continued their shared pastimes of fishing, genealogy and travel.

Upon their passing in 1998, just a few months apart from each other, their estate left $180,000 specifically for the purchase of Puget Island fire trucks. Mr. Buffington was a member of the fire department for a time, retiring in the late 70s. No known indication of the future donation was given during his lifetime, and the source of said fund, besides being personal savings, remains a bit of a mystery. Nevertheless, this 2009 pumper is the third vehicle the Buffington legacy has provided for the department, and it effectively utilizes the last of those dedicated funds. Their generosity extends beyond the fire station. The couple also gifted a portion of their lot near the Wahkiakum ferry landing to the county for use as a traveler’s rest area, where they are still remembered today.

The truck is currently being fitted with new equipment and lettering. Once ready, the department plans to hold an official “Push-In” event, a fire-service tradition where the truck will make its community debut. Keep an eye out for this newest addition to the fleet during this year’s Bald Eagle Parade. As the new pumper takes its place in the station, it stands as a reminder that Puget Island is home to those who travel far, as well as those who have been here for generations.