Savannah Fire & Emergency Services added four new fire engines to its fleet Wednesday.
Mayor Edna B. Jackson and Fire Chief Charles G. Middleton unveiled the new machines at the Savannah International Trade and Convention Center.
The machines were manufactured by Sutphen Corporation of Amlin, Ohio, and are the first new engines the department has received in five years, said Mark Keller, Savannah Fire spokesman. Each of the new machines comes to Savannah Fire as a complete package at a cost of approximately $600,000, he said.
Each includes everything necessary for firefighters to immediately fight fires, including all hoses, tools and SCBAs (breathing apparatus, face pieces and harnesses). They are equipped with LED lighting and each has the capacity to carry 750 gallons of water and can pump out a maximum of 2,000 gallons per minute. The state-of-the-art apparatus are more environmentally friendly than earlier models and feature new safety aspects in accordance with EPA and NFPA standards, Keller said.
Fleet Division Officer Capt. Ira Harper said the new engines feature a lower center of gravity to help prevent rollover possibilities and a more ergonomic design that creates a safer environment for firefighters. Together, these help to reduce the risk of injuries to firefighters while driving the machines and while operating in and around them on fire grounds.
The new apparatus will be assigned to some of the higher call volume stations throughout the city, Keller said. The machines they replace will themselves replace older engines which then will be placed into reserve status.