The Fire Department held a "Wet-Down/Push-In" ceremony today to officially introduce its newest fire engine and place it into service.
Mayor Alonzo Jones and several other members of the City Council joined current and retired firefighters in pushing the new truck into the fire station bay as part of the ceremony, which was held at Fire Station No. 1 and department headquarters on Lynn Street.
The ceremony continues a decades-old tradition in fire service history of pushing a new engine backward into the fire station bay for its first time in service. The tradition began in the late 1800s when fire departments used hand-drawn pumpers and horse-drawn equipment. Upon returning to the fire station after a fire call, the horses could not easily back the equipment into the station, so they were disconnected from the fire equipment and firefighters would push the apparatus back into the bays themselves. Before pushing the apparatus back into the bay, the firefighters would also wash down the apparatus and the horses before readying both for the next fire call.
The new fire engine replaces a truck that had been in service at Station No. 1 since 2006. Fire Chief David Coffey said the National Fire Protection Association recommends a fire engine be in front-line service for no more than 15 years. After that, a fire engine can remain in reserve for another 10 years.
During that time, fire trucks can travel several hundred thousand miles on streets in the city.
"Fire trucks have a rough life,” Coffey said. "We start them cold (when receiving a fire call), run them hot, and then you turn them off. There is nothing easy for an apparatus.”
New trucks also feature the latest technology and safety upgrades.
"Technology is always changing and there are all kinds of safety measures behind that pump panel (in the new truck),” he added. “It's not an issue until things (in old trucks) go south.”
The process for purchasing this truck began three years ago. "We used to order an engine and take delivery of it the same year, so it used to be about anywhere from a 10-month to 11-month process from ordering to delivery," the fire chief said.
However, supply-and-demand issues following the Covid pandemic have led to the current wait time.
The new vehicle, which cost $680,000, has a bigger motor, a 1,500-gallon pump, a 500-gallon water tank and a full complement of tools and accessories.
"It's a nice piece of equipment," Coffey said.
The truck features a new color scheme.
The department has two additional fire engines and a ladder truck on order. It expects to take delivery on the ladder truck late this year. That truck was purchased using money provided by Caesars Entertainment. The ladder truck will serve the casino resort area.