A 23-year-old fire truck was replaced in New Hanover County Tuesday morning.
Fire and county officials pushed the new engine into the bay at the Myrtle Grove Station during a traditional firehouse ceremony.
The new Fire Engine 18 can carry 1,000 gallons of water and 30 gallons of firefighting foam, which helps extinguish fires. It also has updated displays and readouts to monitor the unit's performance.
The purchase was made with efficiency in mind, as the Myrtle Grove Station runs a high volume of all county calls.
Firefighters will benefit from the bigger windshield for a safer driving view and extra compartments to store dirty fire gear, keeping toxins away from the breathing air inside the truck.