THINGS LOOKING BETTER FOR CFD FIREMEN
A new Illinois law provided a nearly $100.00 per month raise for city firemen and policemen. Mayor Closson was upset because this large increase had put the city in "a mess." Later in the year the city council stated that Charleston had asked for the State of Illinois to pay the increase of salary to fireman and policeman. This new requirement was described by a member of the council as "wholly a creature of the State of Illinois and not of the city."

QUAD ARRIVES
Charleston's new multiple purpose, very long and all-white fire truck was delivered to the city, February 27, 1953. The canopy and brick pillars in front of the fire hall had to be removed to provide more turning room for the truck entering and leaving the hall. The council passed an ordinance to prohibit parking on the north side of Jackson between 5th and 6th to allow the new truck to maneuver in and out of the building. 

1953 SUFFERED A DROUGHT The fire department was called out for many dry brush fires. Mel Taylor was photographed spraying a hot spot in brush during the drought. Temperatures rose to 100 degrees.

MAYOR CLOSSON ANNOUNCES
LOWER INSURANCE RATES

1954 would finally have some relatively good news for Charlestonians. The mayor announced that "Charleston residents may be enjoying lower fire insurance rates within the next few days." In a Monday night interview, the Mayor also said that "We have completed all the improvements required by the Illinois Inspection bureau and have requested that they re-rate the city."

The Quad was so-named because of its multi-purpose functions:  ladder, rescue (net), pump, and hose.  It served well into the 1970's, and would be retired to the Lincoln Fire Protection District, and then converted to a city salting truck.