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. 

Packed tightly in a warehouse set up by the authorities, the emergency vehicles - some 100 years old - were meant to have eventually been rehoused in a museum but the plans fell through.

Fire departments across the country tried, and failed, to raise funds in the 1990s to restore the dozens of retired engines.

As a result, the vehicles wound up in this secret location in rural France: a fire engine 'graveyard'.