Sprint trucks are Ford Explorer Interceptors made for public safety response, according to Mobile Fire-Rescue spokesman Steve Huffman. 

The vehicles can respond quicker, because they can maneuver through traffic easier than the larger fire trucks, they are more efficient and will save on cost and they will save on wear and tear of the larger fire apparatus, Huffman said.

Sprint trucks are equipped with the same medical equipment that is normally on a fire truck.

Fire personnel said two women were taken to Harborview Medical Center with minor injuries after the fire engine T-boned the sedan they occupied at the intersection.

The engine was custom-built to the department's specifications by Custom Fire, Inc. of Osceola, Wis., and will replace two 30-year old vehicles. The engine was designed to allow the department to maintain its ISO rating, which affects property insurance rates in the area.

The engine, built on a Spartan MetroStar chassis, features a six-person cab designed to double as a rehabilitation area for firefighters and victims of a fire incident. The cab is extra tall so firefighters can stand up fully and work with their breathing packs.

Included with the engine are a variety of innovations to make emergency response quicker and safer. A new set of extrication tools are on board and are designed to handle hi-tech metals in today's vehicles. An on-board breathing apparatus recharge station works with new higher-pressure air tanks that allow for twice as much breathing time.