POULSBO — On July 15, 1936, the Poulsbo City Council approved the purchase of the city’s first fire truck: a 1918 American La France.

Now almost 70 years later, community members are trying to bring a nearly identical truck home with Central Market officially firing up the fund-raising campaign today.

“It’s not the actual truck but it’s the same year, same model, same vintage, same everything,” said Poulsbo Fire Commissioner Jim Ingalls, who is one of the many community members involved in the effort.

The original truck was purchased for $838.35. Nearly seven decades later, $20,000 is needed to purchase and restore the truck that currently resides in Port Ludlow, Ingalls said.

“It’s in pretty good shape and there is some work to be done,” he said. “It doesn’t run but it’s all there.”

Poulsbo Fire Department Chief Jim Shields heard about the truck through the Kitsap Peninsula Model T Club, which restored the 1924 Model T truck that made its homecoming during the 2005 Viking Fest Parade, Ingalls said.

The group in Port Ludlow obtained the 1918 La France from Bend, Ore. 30 years ago and drove it from Bend to Port Ludlow, he said.

Once the truck is purchased and restored, it will be used in parades, events like Touch A Truck as well as a number of educational events.

“When we get it restored, I’d like to take a picture of it with our current firefighters,” Ingalls said, noting that a picture of the truck is prominently displayed at the Poulsbo Fire Department headquarters on Liberty Road.

The fund-raiser is a collaborative effort between the fire department, local businesses, the community and the Poulsbo Historical Society, said Glenn Anderson, whose grandfather Martin Anderson was a volunteer firefighter.

“We’re trying to preserve a little bit of history,” Anderson said.

Central Market store manager Tom Hall said donation jars will be at each checkout stand as well as at the pharmacy and coffee shop.

“We just feel it’s a very important project and we love working with the fire department,” Hall said. “It does bring a lot of opportunities with it.”

Central Market has set up an account at American Marine Bank for donations and will be distributing information about the fund-raiser as well.

Donations to the Poulsbo Fire Department Fire Truck Fund can be dropped off at the American Marine Bank location at Central Market or mailed to the Poulsbo Fire Department Fire Truck Fund at 911 Liberty Road, Poulsbo, WA 98370.