Firefighters from South Jenkins, Millen, District Six, North Jenkins and the Georgia Forestry Commission are shown during a "wet down" of the new fire engine recently received by South Jenkins. (Photo contributed) Chief Rabun Johnson reports that South Jenkins County Firefighters were recently joined by neighboring firefighters in an old fashioned traditional "Wet Down" of their new Engine 51.

Fire fighters from Millen, District Six, North Jenkins and the Georgia Forestry Commission participated in the event. The tradition was originated during the hand-drawn apparatus era when neighboring departments came together to fill a new fire engine with water so that it could be placed in service. Symbolically, the firefighters joined together to push the engine into its new home.

The engine is a new state-ofthe art 1,250 gallon per minute diesel pumper and carries 1,000 gallons of water. The engine also has a crew cab designed to protect the firefighters. The machine came fully equipped with hose, nozzles and tools to meet ISO Requirements.

The addition of this engine will favorably impact future ISO Classifications for the South Jenkins response area.

The truck was a direct result of an Assistance to Firefighters Grant through FEMA. The unit has already answered several calls and is available through mutual aid countywide.