The Magnolia Volunteer Fire Department added a new flood rescue vehicle to its fleet Thursday morning during an open house at Unity Park in Magnolia. The amphibious vehicle, manufactured by Hydratrek, will allow the MVFD to cross both land and water during the event of a flood to better perform search and rescue operations, officials said.

The MVFD is the first fire department in Texas to purchase a vehicle from Hydratrek for rescue purposes. The amphibious vehicle can travel up to 15 mph on land and up to 4 mph in the water and provides seating for up to 18 individuals with the attached raft.

Hydratrek and the MVFD worked together to create a custom vehicle for first responder efforts.

See the vehicle in action below.

[g-slider gid="264554" width="100%" height="55%"]