"It was just time," said Chief Ronnie Waller. "You try to figure on a fire truck maybe 20 years lifetime on it. We got many more years than 20 over this one."

"From a safety standpoint, upgrade and have the latest state of the art equipment that we can afford," said Board of Supervisor JT Davis.

The Board has agreed to give $150,000 a year to help the volunteer fire departments in the county. Each year, a committee decides which department gets part of the $150,000.

The fire truck was responding to a call with lights and sirens when the wreck occurred after the intersection, Daugherty said.

The silver sedan on the outer loop of Man o’ War jumped the median and collided with Fire Engine 15 on the inner loop, Daugherty said. The truck hit the passenger side of the car, he said.

"We have had chicken barbeques. We have had pancake breakfasts," fire company president Mary Shaughnessy said.

A $350,000 check from Talisman Energy paid for the remainder of the $875,000 project.

Firefighters said they really realized how inadequate the old fire station was during the flood of 2011 when victims came seeking shelter.

"It was awful, just awful. It tore me up to see an elderly woman sitting there shivering, and we couldn't do anything to help her because blankets was all we had at that time," said Shaughnessy.