HANCOCK COUNTY, Georgia — Firefighters at a rural Georgia fire station no longer have to drive to neighboring counties or wash their protective gear at home, thanks to a donation from a local water company.

East Lake Fire Rescue Station in Hancock County recently received a specialized washing machine called an extractor from Piedmont Water Company , allowing firefighters to properly clean their turnout gear without leaving the station.

"Piedmont did not hesitate to step up and provide us with this extractor according to NFPA 1851, which is a fire code, " said Jackie Barnum, a firefighter who reached out to the company. "We are not allowed to put our turnout gear or any of our firefighter gear into a regular washing machine or into our home because of cross-contamination."

The do

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