New, life-saving equipment replaces Albany Fire Department’s aging machines

ALBANY, Ga. – Albany firefighters demonstrated brand new equipment today. Before receiving the $230,000 worth of upgrades, the department was using first generation, aging equipment. The newer, 4th generation machines are lightweight, waterproof, stronger and faster. Fire Chief Cedric Scott says the seven new sets of equipment will optimize each department that they’re headed to.

He says, “We hope we don’t have to use it but our citizens should know, and our visitors should know that if the need arises we will be there to serve and we will be there to provide emergency extrication in getting them out of vehicles in the event that they have had an accident.”

In June, the Mayor and Commissioners approved the purchase of seven sets of Hurst E-draulic equipment for the Albany Fire Department. The previous equipment was aging, creating issues for maintenance, parts, and repairs. Also, in the last ten years, there have been significant upgrades to the safety and strength of vehicles requiring the life-saving equipment to be updated in response.

Fire Chief Scott says the department will bring the new equipment before the Dougherty County Commission so that it can be distributed to the four county stations.