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The Courier-News recently published an article about a retired Elgin fire engine that is set to be donated to a fire department in Cauquenes, Chile—the city’s sister city. The vehicle has been sitting on John Tobin’s driveway in West Dundee since October, waiting for its next mission.
Tobin, a long-time fire apparatus dealer, has been working tirelessly to get the 1996 Seagrave back into service. The engine was last used at Station 5 on Villa Street in 2012 and originally cost the city $228,000 when it was new. Refurbishing it completely would be expensive, so Tobin has focused on key repairs—re-strapping the fuel tank, adding “Cauquenes†stencils to the cab, replacing the pump shift and gauges, and even installing a bell.
According to Elgin Fire Lieutenant Bob Bedard, the truck still has plenty of life left and is far superior to the current equipment in Cauquenes, where firefighters often rely on pickup trucks equipped with basic pumps. The engine came into Bedard’s hands after Elgin purchased a new ladder truck. As part of the deal, the city received $10,000 to trade in the old engine, and company representatives agreed to donate it to the Sister Cities initiative.
This isn’t the first time Elgin has supported Cauquenes. In February 2011, a group of Elgin firefighters traveled to Rancagua to help train local public safety workers on the use of donated firefighting and rescue equipment from Elgin, South Elgin, Hampshire, and Pingree Grove fire departments.
In January 2013, more aid followed: Cauquenes received fire hoses, turnout gear, helmets, boots, nozzles, electronics, medical equipment, and even an outdated fire engine—all surplus by U.S. standards. The Chilean recipients covered the shipping costs.
Bedard had to raise $20,000 himself to cover the shipping expenses, with no city funds being used. He says the Chilean firefighters are eager to learn advanced techniques like structural shoring, rope rescue, and vehicle extractions. According to Bedard, they struggle to find used cars in Chile for training, making these skills especially valuable.
This donation represents not just a transfer of equipment, but also a deepening of the friendship between Elgin and Cauquenes through shared knowledge and support.