(KMZA)--The Seneca City Council heard the annual report from the city's volunteer fire department when they meet last week.

Fire Chief Brett Ohlsen said the department responded to 68 calls last year---including 20 in the city and 48 rural calls. A large percentage of the rural calls were for grass and brush fires.

Seneca firefighters completed a total of more than 880 hours of training last year.

Ohlsen said the department's new rural pumper truck was delivered three weeks ago and has already been used to respond to several fires. It will replace a 2002 truck that will continue to be used in another capacity. The new truck will be used as a back-up city truck and specifically for rural structure fires.

The Council approved a resolution authorizing execution of a 5-year lease-purchase agreement with First Heritage Bank, of Seneca, to pay the about $373,000 cost of the new truck. Under terms of the agreement, five annual payments of $80,654 will be made, with the first payment due in April 2023.

Ohlsen was re-elected as fire chief for 2022 during the department's annual elections in January. Tom Haug was elected as 1st Assistant Chief and Travis Emmons as 2nd Assistant Chief.