Funds helped the department to buy 1.75-inch hose and nozzles for all fire apparatus, local fire officials said. The new equipment is larger than the 1.5-inch hose and nozzles previously in service.

The new equipment, whose implementation is being overseen by fire Lt. Jeff Gootman, is designed to improve water flow from attack lines and enhance firefighting ability. Firefighters have been training in the use of the new equipment.

Officials noted that with larger homes built in town over the last decade or so, increased water flow is needed to help extinguish fires in such structures, which is facilitated by the new hoses and nozzles.

Porter Fire Chief Carter Johnson wanted to provide the training since it will be an invaluable tool a crew will need every day when making calls in the community.

"The second leading cause of death for firefighters is headed to and from calls," Johnson said. "It's important to think of the impact if there is a wreck with the apparatus -- it affects families, the community and the station. This is a major responsibility of our organization to get to and from scenes and calls safely."

Each of the firefighters had the chance to complete the training ride through an obstacle course on FD International's specially designed truck. The course was designed to provide hands-on, high-stress, real-life driver training in a safe and controlled environment.

The old engine -- complete with open air jump seats that the National Fire Protection Association no longer approves -- was used by three generations of firefighters in the Bulisco family, including 22-year-old Marco Bulisco.

Bulisco said his father, assistant fire chief Tom Bulisco and his grandfather, former chief Jim Shaftic, who served at the department from 1973 to 1993, both used the 1986-era truck.

That truck was recently replaced with Engine 2407, a $420,000 truck that services the Mahoningtown station and that was purchased through a FEMA grant and a number of matching donations, including money from the Ellwood Group Inc., the Hoyt Foundation and Central Heating and Plumbing. Engine 2407 was put into service about three months ago, according to Panella.

Panella said he is working with a city police officer to donate that old engine to an overseas department, as FEMA does not allow any fire department in the U.S. to use an engine that has been replaced through its grant program.

A second engine -- a 1994 model with around 104,000 miles on it that served as the department's main truck -- was replaced with the custom-built engine 2402 just last month. Panella said the second new engine, costing around $700,000, was purchased through the savings the city realized after refinancing a bond. The new truck will also serve as the department's main engine, and is housed at the Central Fire Station.