The Homewood Village Board agreed to a $1.3 million purchase of a new fire truck at the Jan. 14 board meeting. Fire Chief Bob Grabowski said the cost is double what the last fire engine cost in 2019.
The new fire truck will be a Pierce Enforcer model, and will be purchased from MacQueen Emergency Group of Saint Paul, Minnesota, for $1,385,000.
The chief acknowledged, “That’s a lot of money.”

Grabowski noted to the board how the last truck that they ordered was in 2017 for about $600,000. It took a delivery time of two years, and arrived in 2019.
Now, the delivery time has increased to four years, and is double the price. Since 2021, manufacturers have been increasing their prices by an average of 20% per year, he said.
“All of our trucks and engines are on a 20-year cycle, front-lines are replaced every 10 years and then go on reserve for 10 years,” said Grabowski. They currently operate one front-line and one backup fire truck. The department has been following this replacement schedule since 2009.

Despite not needing a replacement for their current 2004 truck until 2029, Grabowski suggests that they order the new fire truck now in 2025 due to annual cost increases. By placing the order this year, the new fire truck will be delivered in 2029.
“I don’t think you would be coming up here and asking us for this if you didn’t feel it was necessary to keep our community safe,” said Trustee Lauren Roman, adding, “and we can’t control the price, so it is what it is.”
Grabowski expects general obligation bonds and available grants will be used as a funding source for the fire truck. The fire department received a $200,000 state grant in 2024 that will help reduce the cost.