"We saved for a few years to pay for this truck, salvaging equipment from the previous truck," Volunteer Fire Chief Richard Dudley said.

The truck is equipped with medical supplies, self-containing breathing apparatus, ladders, pike poles and the Jaws of Life, a tool used to extricate passengers from vehicles following a collision.

"The community of Jackson should feel a lot safer with this new truck in use," said Dudley. "Our volunteer firefighters have been working hard for years to bring this kind of truck to the department and to the community. It's been a long time coming and will assist them well in performing their firefighter duties."

"With having the extra 30 feet it will help put out fires at hotels," said Fire Chief Tim Arnold.

In the event of an emergency, firefighters can set up the ladder truck and start battling the flames in just  minutes.

The new truck is capable of saving more lives as well as keeping firefighters safe.

"Its bigger and has more pumping capacity," Arnold said.

Although response times won't be any different, each call will have three pumpers and a ladder truck responding. Arnold said  this is an overall better truck for them to use.

The fire department needs a tower truck to reach some of the taller buildings that are now in the city, such as South Lake Hospital, which plans an expansion, and Crane’s View Lodge, a five-story assisted living facility.

The new fire engine be dedicated to Assistant Fire Chief April Hoover, who died of cancer Oct. 9, 2008. Her name and date of death are memorialized on the side of the new truck. Her brother, Jason Perrigo, will be in attendance.

The ceremony will take place at Fire Station No. 3, at 2155 Legends Way in Clermont, across from the National Training Center’s athletic fields.

The origin of pushing a fire truck into the station dates back to the time of horse-drawn engines when firefighters had to push the fire pumpers into the station because horses could only pull forward.

Senior Firefighter David Mills, a current member of the Hickory Fire Department, and his father, George, have purchased three fire trucks from the City of Hickory; a 1919 American LaFrance Type 75 triple, a 1924 American LaFrance Type 75 triple, and a 1924 American LaFrance Type 14-6 combination service ladder. 

The two plan to restore the antique engines and drive them in local parades and shows and allow the community to enjoy this unique part of Hickory’s history.

George Mills, former Chief of Bay Leaf Volunteer Fire Department, spent a large part of his life as a volunteer fireman. He instilled the love of community service into his son, who from an early age wanted to be a firefighter as well, and went on to begin his volunteer fire service at the age of 16.