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.

INL spokeswoman Misty Benjamin told EastIdahoNews.com the ambulance was following the fire engine when the fire engine suddenly stopped to avoid hitting an animal crossing the road. That’s when the ambulance rear-ended the fire engine, according to Benjamin.

The fire and ambulance crews were not responding to an emergency when the accident happened, Benjamin said, but two of the firefighters were hurt and taken to the hospital.

The new truck was part of a package deal voters approved in April 2012. The city took out a 20-year, $5.3 million bond to build a new fire station and to buy the ladder truck.

Grandview’s ladder truck was on-scene for 24 hours during the incident.

Markham said then the city could use a ladder truck for similar fires and to help with potential disasters in the taller buildings, including the new two-story addition at the high school.

The renovated fire station was built with a ladder truck in mind, including higher ceilings and doors.

Now, the truck itself has been built and needs only a few items to be corrected before it starts its journey to Washington state.