• Four-wheel-drive pumper is expected to serve the community for the next 30 years
A new fire truck is expected to arrive in Thayne mid-September, replacing an aging engine and upgrading much-needed specs to serve the community.
Thayne Fire Chief Tedd Jenkins said the department recently completed a final inspection of the engine, though a few modifications still need to be made before it is delivered to Thayne. Once those changes are complete and the engine passes another inspection, it will make its way to Star Valley.
The engine that will be replaced has been increasingly difficult to maintain and rely on. Jenkins said they needed a truck that would be dependable and better meet the needs of both firefighters and the service to the community for decades to come.
The new engine was purchased for $740,000. A $205,000 State Lands and Investment Board grant helped offset a portion of the cost.
Jenkins said the engine is expected to remain in service for approximately 30 years while providing improved fire protection throughout the Mid-Valley Fire District, including Thayne, Star Valley Ranch and portions of neighboring Caribou County, Idaho (Freedom).
“We are so appreciative of the support that we get from the people in our fire area,” said Jenkins.
“It’s a 4-wheel drive, so it will be able to go to a lot of places.” It will have a 1,000 gallon capacity vs the older 600 gallon engine.
The Class A pumper was custom built for the department after working with IKON Fire to create the 2026 Rosenbauer Top Mount Pumper, which will be longer to fit five firefighters. It will have similar updates as the latest truck, Engine 3, that was added in 2024 in Star Valley Ranch.
The addition of the larger engine has also emphasized the need for a larger fire station. Jenkins said the Town of Thayne and the fire district reached an agreement on a location for a future station last year, and planning for the project continues. Additional updates will be shared as progress is made.
Once the engine arrives and is placed into service, the department plans to hold a traditional push-back ceremony later this fall.
Jenkins thanked residents throughout the department’s service area for their continued support, saying the new engine is an investment that will help firefighters provide enhanced protection for the community well into the future.
