Celebrating the Lakeview FD's 'Fighting Freds'

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The Lakeview Fire Department held a wetdown on June 11 to welcome the newest addition to its fleet, a Rosenbauer Commander Engine, equipped with a 1500 gallon-per-minute pumper and a 750-gallon tank. The ceremony for the apparatus — Engine 414 — was attended by local clergy and elected officials, and followed by a barbecue and tours of the engine for all.

The ceremony was particularly meaningful for the Lakeview FD because the fire department’s board unanimously voted to name the new engine the “Fighting Fred,” honoring the truck’s lead architect, Ex-Chief Fred Senti.

Senti, who had been battling cancer since last year, said the truck was an endeavor that took three years to come to fruition — but was well worth the wait.

“It is a combo engine and rescue featuring new battery-operated Hurst tools,” said Senti. “The battery tools allow for better remote accessibility. We kept the cost low for taxpayers by consolidating two vehicles into one.”