ALBANY, Ga. (WALB) — Dougherty County is celebrating a significant investment in public safety with the additional of seven new firetrucks, three of which are county-funded.

These firetrucks will serve in Albany and the county.

The new Pierce pumper trucks were unveiled during a special dedication ceremony. This serves as a major milestone for the city and county and is the result of years of planning, coordination and investment in fire protection, and emergency response and firefighter safety.

Albany Fire Chief Cedric Scott officially put the new trucks into service at 12:03 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21. They are now available to respond to emergencies in Albany and Dougherty County.

The three bought by the county will serve people living in the areas of Newton (Station 8), Gillionville (Station 10), and Hill (Station 11) roads.

“This is what responsible investment in public safety looks like — replacing aging equipment, strengthening our emergency response capabilities, and ensuring that our firefighters have the resources they need when our citizens need them most,” said Dougherty County Chairman Lorenzo Heard. “No matter how advanced the equipment, the greatest asset we have is the person behind the wheel and the firefighters inside that truck.”

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Chief Scott also weighed in on the importance of these new trucks.

“A fleet investment of this magnitude and scale does not happen by accident. It takes vision, collaboration and a steadfast dedication to public safety from our entire community,” Scott said. “Those fire trucks parked outside belong to you. Every time one of those firetrucks rolls out of the station doors, it represents your trust and your investment in public safety.”

Each new truck is equipped with a 1,000-gallon water tank and modern electrical, plumbing, and hydraulic systems. The trucks also have enhanced safety features, as well as crash and rollover protections, airbags, advanced traction control, and independent front suspension.

“The goal is to replace the vehicles on time so that you’re not impacted,” Fleet Director Peter Bednar said. “Nothing is worse than having a fire and an engine goes to respond and breaks down halfway down the road. Every minute is absolutely critical.”

These seven new trucks are part of a broader effort to maintain and modernize firefighting equipment serving the county and city. Officials are in various planning stages for more apparatus to support airport fire rescue operations, county water supply needs, and brush fire responses.

Firefighters who will operate the new trucks were also recognized at Friday’s ceremony.

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