The Traer Fire Department will be hosting a fish fry on Friday, Feb. 20 to help raise funds to purchase a new truck. The truck that they wish to replace is a 1988 tanker-pumper. The department has decided to replace, rather than refurbish the truck after looking at the guidelines that the National Fire Protection Agency has. The truck that they have specified will be a tanker-pumper with a 500 gallon per minute pump and has a capacity of carrying 2,000 gallons of water. The Traer Fire Department feels that this proposed purchase will help maintain the tradition that dates back to 1879 when the Traer Fire Department was first organized.

On March 7, 1879 a special election was held to vote on a tax to support permanent fire protection. Following the successful vote, a steam engine with equipment was purchased from G.W. Barner for $2,530.00. It was named “Maid of the Mist”. As the years have passed, the fire department has benefited from the generosity of the community and has had a succession of different fire apparatus that has served them well but now have been retired, including their 1928 Boyer. At the time that it was purchased the Traer Star-Clipper wrote, “Traer, now has the best equipped small town fire department in Iowa.” The Boyer was retired in 1958, but remains in Traer as an antique.

The Traer Fire Department is hoping that this spirit of support will continue as they look to maintain the tradition of not only being the best equipped small town fire department in Iowa, but the best small town fire department in Iowa.