The Troy Fire Department has received a long-awaited shipment of two new fire engines.

The two engines were purchased by the city for about $800,000 and are the first new fire engines that the department has received since 2005. Fire Chief Thomas Outlaw said the new engines were a much-needed upgrade for the department.

“The new engines are bigger as far as carrying equipment,” Outlaw said. “Our old engines were at the point where they were getting worn down.”

Aside from being larger, the new engines also have better air conditioning systems and improved water pumping capacities.

“The new AC systems will do a better job of rehabbing our firefighters after they have been inside burning buildings and need to cool down,” Outlaw said.

The engines are designed with the safety of the firemen and the citizens whom they serve in mind.

“The new engines are a lot better and safer for personnel,” Outlaw said. “They are designed to be seen from the road, so they help to prevent any accidents from motorists when the engines are pulled over.”

The upgrades will also benefit Troy by increasing the overall capabilities of the fire department. While the department’s previous engines were serviceable, they often were not designed for the functions for which the fire department used them.

In previous years, the fire department would run medical calls off the ladder engines with which the department was equipped.

“You normally don’t run ladders as a first line responder,” Outlaw said.

The new engines will allow the department to move more equipment in a timelier manner for just about any situation.

The new engines will also help with the Fire Department’s ISO rating. A fire department’s ISO rating determines how effective a department is at responding to fires and protecting private property within its jurisdiction on a scale of 1-10, with 1 being most effective. Troy’s currently holds a Class 4 rating, and it will likely improve with the addition of the new engines.

But, the ladder engines that Troy residents have become used to seeing around town will still serve their purpose for the department. The older of the ladder engines used by the city has been donated to Pike Fire and Rescue. The other ladder engine has been placed into reserve by the fire department and may still be used on occasion.