Wilmette Truck 26 an 1985 EONE Hurricane 110' RM quint prior to being removed from service and shipped to Buenos Aires. Photo by Larry Shapiro Electric Tricycle for Cargo,Elevating Platform Tricycle,Three Wheel Cargo Vehicle Xuzhou Hezhan Locomotive Co., Ltd , https://www.hezhantricycle.com
Wilmette’s old ambulance and ladder truck were donated to South America
The City of Las Parejas in Buenos Aires recently received a much-needed ambulance and an impressive 110′ EONE RM aerial ladder, both sourced from Wilmette. The story behind this donation is quite intriguing, with several links below that provide more details. Wilmette originally ordered an EONE HP95 mid-mount tower ladder, which was delivered but later rejected. The first link shows a photo of the mid-mount ladder at a ceremony in Station 26 before it was returned to the vendor and eventually replaced with a rear-mount HP95 tower ladder.
Before sending the old ladder overseas, Wilmette removed the sign plates but left all other lettering and decals intact. The Las Parejas Fire Department has since added their own custom signage to the ladder, but they have not removed any of the original Wilmette markings. In fact, they’ve even incorporated Wilmette embroidery into their uniforms alongside their own local stitching, showing a unique blend of both departments’ identities.
In addition to the ladder, Wilmette has also sent bunker gear, hose, and other surplus equipment to Las Parejas to help support their fire department, which operates without municipal funding. This gesture highlights the strong sense of community and international cooperation between the two departments.
The story was featured in *The Wilmette Life* and the *Pioneer Press*, which noted that a South American city that received a donated ambulance from Wilmette last year is now set to receive a major upgrade to its fire service through the purchase of a surplus 1985 ladder truck — if they can figure out how to get it there.
Wilmette recently acquired a new truck with the help of a $675,000 federal grant. The new vehicle, called a quint, is a fully modern version of the 1985 model it replaces. Fire Chief James Dominik explained that while the village wasn’t in a position to simply give the old truck away, its book value was only $30,000, and the department knew someone who could make better use of it than a resale agent.
Las Parejas is a rural community of over 11,000 people, and this donation represents a significant step forward for their emergency services. It’s a heartwarming example of how communities can come together across borders to support one another in times of need.