Old equipment creates problems for small fire departments during wildfires

BUTLER COUNTY, Kan. (KSNW) — Friday’s wildfires in Butler County were tough on the 10 fire departments called in but especially for crews in smaller departments like Towanda. Towanda Fire Chief Tom Pyle said two trucks had mechanical failures during the wildfires. He said it can get expensive to keep these older trucks up and running. In one of the trucks, the radio and water pump quit working, and the other’s alternator stopped. “The events, the terrain, the smoke, and the duration of the fire on Friday really contributed, I think to the failure of those two trucks,” said Pyle.…