New La Crosse fire engine dedicated to assistant chief who died in line of duty

The arrival of a new fire truck is a cause for celebration by La Crosse’s Fire Department. 

Fire crews got together at the main fire station on 5th Avenue Saturday to dedicate the new ‘Engine 10’ at the main fire station. 

The new truck can carry 2000 gallons of water, and replaces a 25-year-old engine and a 35-year-old “water tender.”

Engine 10 is dedicated to the memory of Assistant Fire Chief Ed Sciborski, who died in December of 1964 from severe burns, days after falling into a pit filled with boiling water while running through a cloud of steam.

At the ceremony, retired firefighter Bill Knobloch described how he was running next to Sciborski in responding to the rupture of an underground pipe when Sciborski disappeared into the hole.

The accident happened in the alley behind the old Henry’s Drive-In on King Street, now the location of Pizza Doctors.

Sciborski’s daughter Cindy also spoke on Saturday, and was joined by many other family members at the dedication.

La Crosse Mayor Tim Kabat spoke of how the community shows love and support for the fire department.

Current Fire Chief Ken Gilliam spoke briefly by video connection, attending the event virtually because of a family health emergency.