Graafschap Fire Department joins Fire Truck Parade

The latest addition to the Graafschap Fire Department will be joining the 43^rd annual Fire Truck Parade at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 3, 2025, in downtown Holland.

Graafschap’s new pumper/tanker, named 740, will join the event and be on display at the Civic Center after the parade.

About the truck

The process to purchase the new vehicle began in 2023 when staff decided it was time to start replacing some of the oldest pieces of the fleet. Consideration was given to how a truck can be built for today’s use and future needs of the community.

A two-person cab, pumper/tanker concept was chosen because the truck is for quick response with plenty of water (3,000 gallons). The department chose Spencer Manufacturing for the build.

Later in 2023, the Graafschap Fire Board and the Fillmore and Laketown township boards approved the purchase and the order was placed. The chassis was paid for right away and delivered to the fire station in the fall of 2024. It was stored indoors until Spencer was ready for it.

Spencer called for the chassis in early 2025 and began the months long process of fabrication and assembling components.

The new truck was also purchased in timely manner due to rapidly increasing costs. After explaining these rising costs to the boards, and the need for another new apparatus soon, the decision was made to order another truck and have it in the pipeline. That new chassis is being built and should be in full production at Spencer next year. By placing an order for the truck in 2025, the department expects to save more than $50,000 due to emission changes in 2026. The vehicle will replace a 31-year-old truck.

The parade

Th Fire Truck Parade starts at the corner of Eighth Street and Columbia Avenue in Holland on Friday night, Oct. 3. The vehicles head down Eighth Street to the Holland Civic Center, 150 W. Eighth St.

There, the West Michigan Fire Prevention Council presents a fire safety event from 7:30 to 9 p.m. including vehicle displays, fire and safety demonstrations, and the chance for children to try on fire coats and helmets and operate a fire hose.

For more information, visit here.