But what they don't know is their fire department has a piece of history right before their very eyes.

"Three years ago, we were in need of upgrading an equipment rig so we basically were going online looking for places," says the Leonard Fire Chief Tyler Zimmerman.

The fire department found a truck in Nashville, Tennessee, from a dealer and while driving it up they heard it may have responded to the Pentagon on 911.

After making some phones calls to the Washington DC fire station and the truck's former mechanic they found out what they heard was true.

"We decided to donate the ambulance to Arkansas Tech-Ozark because we think that it will be a good partnership with ATU and we are very interested in the paramedic program there," said Tim W. Hearn, executive director of Fort Smith EMS. "We draw from that program for new paramedics. After speaking with Josh Freeman, the director of Paramedic/Emergency Services, and Bruce Sikes, the Chancellor, we saw a need and thought it would be a good fit."

Arkansas Tech-Ozark already houses an ambulance simulator built into the paramedic simulation lab in the new Health Sciences and Wellness Building but this will be the first ambulance students will be able to drive. The ambulance will assist in practicing loading and unloading patients and will help students gain experience riding and working in an ambulance.

"We value the service of Fort Smith EMS to our students and community," said Bruce Sikes, chancellor of Arkansas Tech-Ozark Campus, "And we appreciate Tim Hearn's leadership as it relates to educating future EMTs and paramedics."

Fort Smith EMS is no stranger to community service. The 501c3 non-profit is involved in several community programs including several schools in the area, the Arkansas EMT Association, the Arkansas Ambulance Association, Reynolds Cancer Support House, Fort Smith Chamber of Commerce, Infant & Child Death Review Committee, Leadership Fort Smith and more. The organization also volunteers at several community events and several employees mentor students all year.

The new station is expansive and was built in preparation for the future. While Bender is the only paid firefighter on the 26-member department, there are 12 dorm rooms to house future paid staff if that develops. The rooms can also be used by emergency medical technicians who are on duty and by firefighters who man the station during emergencies, such as winter blizzards.

There is a training room, meeting rooms and a lounge with seven soft, oversized recliners facing a large-screen TV. In the kitchen, local woodworking craftsmanship is on display in the wooden cabinets. There are also two large roll-out coolers that will be used for the department's fish fries that are popular town events. Outside there is a training area and Bender said in the future there may be additional training props constructed there.

Out in the truck bay, there is room for the department's eight vehicles and space for adding more.

The station was built large and with amenities for full-time staff because the town of 1,200 residents has seen a lot of industrial growth, with more planned.

The Town Council purchased 51 acres of land from Starcraft Marine for the station location. However, the council sold off 44 of those acres to Crossroads RV. That sale covered about $3.5 million of the cost of the $3.9 million station. The town also took out a $5.9 million bond to help pay for the station and to finance other projects, according to Bender.

The renovation flipped the equipment bays to a new, pre-engineered structure on what had previously been the parking lot. The structure has 14-foot doors - compared to the 10-foot doors previously - and more bay space.

There is now meeting space as well, with a dedicated conference room. There are also new bathrooms, a new kitchen and renovated office space.

The space in the firehouse more than doubled to 6,150 square feet, and Umnus said he is pleased the building can house an engine, a tanker, two grass rigs, the department's ATV and also one of the boats.

The heavy rescue truck that had previously been at the station was moved to station No. 3 on Browns Lake.

With mechanicals in the building dating back to 1969, Umnus said the work was desperately needed.

Now, not only will the fire department be using the space. Rather than having to clear apparatus out of the bays on election days, the meeting space will be used for voting. The Bohners Lake associations will have space for their meetings, and the Town of Burlington Fire Department meetings will also be held consistently at the new station.