Hartley VFD was able to retire a 1978 water tender from its fleet. The new tender carries up to five firefighters with self-contained breathing apparatus capability in the back seat and a foam injection system.

“We have a lot of response calls for hay and cotton module fires,” White said. “The foam is made to help cut the oxygen supply to the fire and allows for a faster knockdown.”

The tender will primarily carry water to the scene of a fire but will also be used for traffic control and to house rescue tools.

The department replaced Fire Station 15, one of the busiest stations in the county, with the new 10,788-square-foot facility on Scenic Highway. The three-bay station has engine, ladder and medic units; sleeping quarters for 12 firefighters and a battalion chief, a kitchen, dining area, dayroom, fitness room and storage areas.   

The department has 31 stations across the county, enabling it to serve all 437 square miles of Gwinnett. Its headquarters is in Lawrenceville. 

Fire Chief Mike Demers said the truck was one of two firefighting vehicles leftover from Brunswick Naval Air Station’s closure. “I heard they were going to be auctioned off but then learned they’d be given free to a municipality,” he said.  

The offer came with two conditions, added Chief Demers. “If the vehicles were needed at a future air show, the municipality would have to agree to provide it for coverage, and if they were ever sold, Brunswick Landing had first refusal.”

The truck is gasoline-driven, equipped with four-wheel drive and has an automatic transmission. Its tank has a water capacity of 500 gallons making it an ideal emergency vehicle  to fight an off-road fire.

There were no injuries when the fire truck ran off the road while responding to the call on Hencoop Road in the town of Skaneateles, according to Fire Chief Daniel S. Evans.

The accident occurred shortly after 7 a.m., Evans said.

Evans said the investigation into the accident and its cause is ongoing.