About 10 years ago, Iola purchased a fully equipped, state-of-the-art Pierce pumper truck for the Iola Fire Department, for a shade more than $500,000.
For two years, the truck worked like a dream.
But a series of computer upgrades in 2012 apparently disagreed with the unit’s DD13 Detroit diesel engine.
Since then, the truck — Engine 311 — has been a chronic problem for the Fire Department, with multiple mechanical issues.