Earlier this month, the French Camp McKinley Fire District purchased a fire engine from Hi-Tech Emergency Vehicle Service, Inc. in Oakdale.
Saturday, they showed it off to the public during an afternoon open house.
The engine features a 500-gallon tank for water and 25-gallon tank for foam. It also features equipment for extracting victims of auto wrecks, power saws for breaking through doorways and medical equipment for health-related calls.
Typically a fire engine just has firefighting equipment. The Jaws of Life, saws and tools are generally carried on fire trucks.
But rural fire departments need vehicles that can do both, said Fire Chief Paul Tualla.
The engine recently purchased by the department can seat six. The two engines French Camp McKinley Fire District sold earlier this year each only sat three.
It also features breathing packs attached to the seats. In older model fire engines, the oxygen tanks firefighters wear on their backs were stored on the back of the vehicle.
That meant it took precious minutes to get prepared once crews arrived on scene, Tualla said.
Now firefighters can hook up their tanks and masks on their way to a fire. It’s one of those little things most people don’t think about that makes a huge difference when lives and homes are at stake.
