Lafayette County Fire Department put in service a brand-new Pierce Saber pumper Tuesday, according to a department press release. This pumper will be housed off Highway 6E at Station 17. Station 17 is located between both ends of County Road 409.

“This is a great addition to Lafayette County Fire Department and Lafayette County. This new pumper has some of the latest firefighting technology that makes it easier and safer for our firefighters to operate,” said LCFD Fire Chief Wes Anderson. “Engine 17 now has a dedicated medical cabinet inside the cab, which is designed to house all the medical equipment to allow for better access for all LCFD EMS personnel on a scene. We are appreciative of the Board of Supervisors support to get this pumper.”

New Engine 17 is replacing a 2007 Rosenbauer pumper that has been in service for Lafayette County Since 2007. The previous Engine 17 (2007 Rosenbauer pumper) will be put in service at another LCFD station to serve the citizens of Lafayette County for years to come.

Shortly after being put in service, Engine 17 responded to its first fire at 4:55pm CST. It was a structure fire on County Road 164. Since yesterday it has responded to three calls for service.

A man from Virginia is facing charges after police say he tried to steal a fire truck in Auburn (ME), BangorDailyNews.com reported.

Fire crews were responding to a call of people stuck in an elevator at the Esplanade Complex in Auburn on Tuesday night when 35-year-old Dana Gifford of Barboursville (VA) climbed into the driver’s seat of their truck, according to the Portland Press Herald.

After being confronted by a nearby firefighter, he got out, saying he initially intended to steal it, the report said. Police responded and after a quick search found Gifford and arrested him, the Press Herald reported.

Gifford was charged with attempted theft, according to the report. He was wanted in several states for non-extraditable charges, the report said. Gifford is currently out on bail.

The Texas Department of Public Safety reports a Copperas Cove woman was cited after her car struck a Copperas Cove fire truck that was at the scene of another active traffic accident Tuesday, Fox44News.com reported.

The DPS said it happened about 8:15 a.m. Tuesday on State Highway 9 near Copperas Cove. A 2015 model Ford Flex driven by a 52-year-old Copperas Cove woman was going west on Highway 9 near Old Georgetown Road, approaching a line of vehicles that were stopped because of the earlier crash, the report said.

Investigating troopers said the Ford collided with the rear of one of the stopped vehicles, then continued across the center median and struck the fire truck that was on the scene. The fire truck had all emergency lights activated and was parked blocking the initial crash, according to the report.

None of the emergency personnel working the crash were injured.

The Eutawville Fire Department will get a pumper fire truck as part of a state grant, The Times and Democrat reported recently.

The South Carolina Department of Commerce Community Development Block Grant program has awarded Orangeburg County a $500,000 grant for the purchase of the fire truck, the report said.

The new truck will replace a truck at the department that’s about 30 years old, a fire official said. It could take more than a year before the truck can be purchased.

A local, 10% match of $50,000 is required.

The S.C. Department of Commerce recently announced $8.3 million in grants given to 20 communities across the state for public improvement projects, according to the report.