ColaDaily.com is your source for free news and information in Columbia and the Midlands. Cayce firefighters took part in a time-honored tradition Wednesday as the torch of duty was passed from one fire engine to the next.
The Cayce fire department needed a new fire engine, said Chief Charles McNair, adding that firefighters were having difficulty fitting all of the necessary equipment onto the current fleet of trucks
Instead of buying two new trucks, the department realized the "best of both worlds" by designing its own truck, McNair said. "We had it built from scratch," he said.
Firefighters had input on details down to the interior and exterior colors and the size of the seats. The result is a one-of-a-kind fire engine, McNair said.
After a 9-month building process, the engine was rolled out with the latest technology, room for extra equipment and the capacity to carry 1,000 gallons of water.
"Making sure we are up to date and have the best equipment to keep residents and businesses safe is what we're all about," Cayce Mayor Elise Partin said.
Partin added that enhanced fire service can improve the city's Insurance Services Office rating, which would lead to lower homeowners insurance rates for Cayce residents.