Hull Fire Department secures FEMA grant for new brush truck

By Brandi Makuski

HULL — The Town of Hull Fire Department has been awarded a $251,623 Assistance to Firefighters Grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Chief Kenneth Sadogierski announced this week.

The grant, which requires a 5% local match, will be used to replace the department’s aging wildland firefighting vehicle. The current apparatus, a retrofitted 1967 U.S. Army 6×6 truck, has become difficult to operate due to its age and design.

The funding allows the HFD to replace outdated equipment and ensure the department is prepared to protect Hull and surrounding communities, Sadogierski said.

The new vehicle, a Ford 550 brush truck, has already been ordered from Midwest Fire and is expected to arrive in April 2025, according to Sadogierski.

“This will be a brand-new truck, likely a 2024 model,” he said. “We ordered it earlier this year, and it should arrive around April 12.”

Sadogierski said the department last received a new vehicle, a tender, in December 2021. He noted that while no plans have been made yet, a push-in ceremony—a tradition among fire departments when welcoming new vehicles—is under consideration for the new brush truck.

“This one will arrive in spring, which is a great time for something like that,” he said.

Hull’s application was one of 7,962 submitted to FEMA this year, with requests totaling $3.72 billion. As of September, FEMA has awarded $517.9 million through the program. This was Hull’s second attempt to secure funding after being denied last year.

Town Chairman Dave Wilz praised the grant as a major win for the community.

“This is excellent news for Hull citizens and our neighboring communities,” Wilz said. “The new equipment will enhance our firefighters’ ability to protect lives and property for years to come. I commend our fire chief for his dedication in securing this crucial funding.”

The funding will allow the department to reallocate budgeted resources to other critical needs within the town. Hull’s fire department currently has 24 active members.