TULALIP – The Tulalip Tribes recently purchased a fire truck for Snohomish County Fire District 15, also known as Tulalip Bay Fire Station.

Fire Chief Ryan Shaughnessy said: “When we went to the Tulalip Tribes in need of help because our funding was limited, they were quick to provide a vital addition for our fire department, one that will benefit the entire community.”

District 15 contracts with the Tulalip Tribes for fire and emergency medical services across a large portion of the Tulalip reservation. The district’s budget comes from property taxes, the Tulalip Tribes and EMS transports.

The new truck is a demonstration unit with only 7,000 miles on the odometer. The new engine has a larger capacity fire pump than previous trucks owned by District 15. The engine is physically larger, too, and it has the ability to carry more equipment and includes more safety features to protect firefighters.

Marie Zackuse, chairwoman for the Tulalip Tribes, said: “Working together as community partners to identify the needs of all those who live within the boundaries of the Tulalip Reservation is critical.”

Tulalip Tribes Board of Director and Fire Commissioner Marlin Fryberg said both entities “have helped supported each other now for decades, and will continue to build on this relationship.”

The fire engine is now in daily use for emergency calls.