The La Crosse Fire Department is honoring a fallen firefighter through a new addition to its fleet. Engineer James McCormick passed away in November 1957 after experiencing chest pains at the scene of a fire. McCormick’s name is now etched on the department’s newest fire truck. To avoid any future health complications while on the job, the department is working to implement national physical standards.
“We got partial funding just this year and we’re working next year to make sure that we’re getting all our firefighters, not only from their entrance physicals, but through the course of their career making sure they emerge from this career as strong or hopefully stronger and more well than when they started,” said La Crosse Fire Chief, Ken Gilliam.
The “Quint 1” truck is now in-service and can carry up to 500 gallons of water.