Two days after officially being entered into service, Habersham County’s newest fire truck responded to its first fire call.
At 4:17 p.m. on February 8, Habersham County E-911 dispatched Engine 12 and other units to a report of a fully-involved structure fire in the area of 1055 Wheeler Road. The 911 caller reported an abandoned structure close to their house was on fire. They warned there might be dynamite and blasting caps inside.
Upon arrival, fire units found the building on fire with flames extended into the surrounding woods. Firefighters quickly extinguished the flames and kept the fire from spreading.
Firefighters reportedly did find blasting caps and possible traces of black powder at the scene. There were no reports of any explosions or injuries.
Engine 12
On Monday, firefighters held a traditional push-in ceremony celebrating the addition of Engine 12 to Firehouse 12. Keeping with a time-honored tradition, Habersham County Emergency Services personnel pushed the truck into a bay at its new home on Duncan Bridge Road.
The history of the push-in ceremony dates back to the 17th and 18th centuries when hand- and horse-drawn fire apparatus had to be pushed into the station by hand.
Engine 12 is a 2022 Spartan S180 with a 1,500-gallon-per-minute pump and a 1,000-gallon water tank. The truck has a full complement of rescue tools and other necessary equipment for fires, wrecks, rescues, and medical emergencies.
The engine joins the county’s other front-line fire trucks, manufactured in 2012, 2010, 2003 (two trucks), 2001, 1993, 1992, and 1990. Two reserve engines are 1989 models.
The average age of the entire engine fleet is 23 years old, while the average for front-line engines is 17 years.
