This photo gallery shows the construction of the new SHAS tanker built right here in South Haven by Spencer Manufacturing. It replaces a 26-year-old tanker. The new T-6 is built upon the same foot print as the 1998 tanker, also built by Spencer - - single axle, nimble, able to access areas that our larger tandem-axle tankers may not. It has a 2,000 gallon tank and 1,500 GPM pump.

He's back!! A depiction of the 1940s Looney Tunes cartoon character Yosemite Sam has been mounted on the new SHAES tanker being constructed at Spencers Manufacturing in South Haven.

Steeped in tradition, SHAES is continuing one that started with the founding of the department more than a quarter of a century ago. An attention-getting depiction of the cartoon character appears on the department's new 2236 tanker..

This tradition started at the time of the creation of the SHAES Authority from what had been the South Haven and Casco fire departments. Randy Van Wynen, the SHAES chief at the time, and colleagues Keith Bierhalter and Tony Marsala selected Yosemite Sam. The department secured permission from Warner Brothers to display him for non-commercial purposes.

Paul Russell from Spencer Manufacturing has been instrumental in creating the caricatures. Each Yosemite Sam depicts the purpose of the truck. Tanker trucks show him with buckets of water. On the engines he is wielding a hose and axe. Shovel and axe are in his hands on grass rigs. Sam holds the Jaws-of-Life extrication tool and a haligan tool on the Rescue truck.

The department is also continuing the tradition of placing a large mural featuring an eagle and the American flag.