In honor of the days when firefighters used to have to push hand-drawn and horse-drawn equipment into their stations, Medical Engine 542 on Thursday was manually backed into the apparatus bay to begin its duty.

San Manuel’s 2017 grant also funded the purchase of new breathing equipment, defibrillators and other rescue apparatus.

The American Medical Response ambulance was not transporting any patients at the time, fire officials said.

The driver of the other vehicle was not taken to a hospital.

The truck, which is specifically designed to handle rescues in Zoar Valley, will carry specialized repelling and white water rescue equipment used by specially trained members of the Gowanda Fire Department on an average of 130 rescue calls a year.

The total cost for the custom built unit is $430,000 and will replace a 29-year-old truck that is no longer reliable.

“This new rescue truck will be used on every non-EMS rescue call the Gowanda Volunteer Fire Department responds to,” Sen. Young said. “Securing grant funding like this is the best way to ensure our volunteer first responders have the equipment they need without imposing an added burden on local property taxpayers.”