Hull Fire Chief Ken Sadogierski, who nearly always manages to avoid looking directly into a news camera, shows off the joystick for the new brush truck's front grill-mounted turret in May. (Metro Wire photo)

Hull Fire Department adds upgraded brush truck with grant funding, new tech

May 22, 2025

By Brandi Makuski

HULL — The Hull Fire Department has upgraded its wildfire response capabilities with the addition of a new 2024 brush truck, replacing a decades-old military vehicle that department leaders say had become unreliable and obsolete.

The new 400-gallon brush truck was built by Midwest Fire and delivered on April 12 after being showcased at the FDIC International fire industry conference in Indianapolis. It replaces a 1963 military surplus six-by-six truck that had served the town for decades but was increasingly difficult to maintain.

“It was old,” said Hull Fire Chief Ken Sadogierski. “The tank leaked, it had a standard transmission—most of the younger folks don’t know how to drive one—and it only went 40 or 45 miles an hour. It was more of a hindrance.”

A demonstration of the front bumper-mounted turret. (Metro Wire photo)

Several members of the Hull Fire Department pose in front of their new brush truck on May 21. (Metro Wire photo)

The new rig features a 400-gallon polypropylene tank with a lifetime warranty and includes 12 gallons of onboard foam capacity—marking the department’s first brush unit equipped with foam.

“It’s the first time we’ve had that on a brush truck,” Sadogierski said. “Our engines have it, but not the brush units.”

Built on a Ford F-550 Super Duty chassis, the truck is outfitted with super single tires and a suspension lift for improved off-road handling. It includes a Thunderstruck HD bumper with a center-mounted, joystick-controlled turret—believed to be the first of its kind in Portage County’s fleet across about a dozen departments.

“The joystick is inside the cab so the operator can direct the nozzle without leaving the vehicle,” Sadogierski said. “We’ve already done some training with it.”

For those with knowledge of industry jargon: the vehicle’s lighting system includes Whelen M6 series emergency and scene lights, intersection lighting, and a full NFPA-compliant warning light package. It also features four high pull-out steps, multiple LED-lit compartments, a full-length diamond plate hose tray, and a full pump panel with chevron striping.

The total cost of the truck was $253,547. The department secured a $239,640 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) through FEMA, with the town covering the remaining $13,907 through the fire department’s budget.

“It was a great deal for something brand new,” Sadogierski said. “We had applied for this grant three times. On the third try, with the help of a grant writer who helped us revise it, we finally got the award last August.”

Since being placed in service, the truck has already responded to two incidents: a local grass fire and a mutual aid call with Stevens Point.

In addition to the truck, the department also purchased a new trailer to transport its UTV. The 14-foot-long, 8.5-foot-wide trailer replaces an older model that was too small for current needs. It was paid for directly from the department’s budget, and the old trailer was sold as surplus.

The Hull Fire Department has 24 members. Sadogierski, who has served as chief for eight and a half years, said the new vehicle not only improves operational capabilities but also boosts morale.

“We’re really proud of what we’ve added,” he said. “It’s built specifically for what we need out here.”