Dracut Fire Department Holds Pushing In Ceremony to Christen Two New Fire Trucks
Photo by Dracut Fire DepartmentDracut firefighters push the new Squad 1 truck into Station 1 on Wednesday morning in what is known as a pushing in ceremony. The tradition hails from the days when firefighters used horse-drawn carriages, and would push new carriages into the fire station by hand. Two new trucks were christened by the department's chaplain on Wednesday prior to the pushing in ceremony.
Photo by Dracut Fire DepartmentFire Department Chaplain Rev. Larry Zimmerman leads firefighters and others in a prayer to bless the two new fire trucks.
Photo by Dracut Fire DepartmentThe Dracut Fire Department's two new fire trucks, Squad 1 and Squad 3, parked outside of Station 1 prior to the pushing in ceremony.
Photo by Dracut Fire DepartmentThe Dracut Fire Department's new Squad 1 truck, a multi-purpose vehicle that can fight structure fires, brush fires, or respond to medical emergencies.
Photo by Dracut Fire DepartmentDracut firefighters push the new Squad 1 and Squad 3 trucks into Station 1 on Wednesday morning in what is known as a pushing in ceremony. The tradition hails from the days when firefighters used horse-drawn carriages, and would push new carriages into the fire station by hand. Two new trucks were christened by the department's chaplain on Wednesday prior to the pushing in ceremony.
DRACUT — Chief Richard Patterson is pleased to report that the Dracut Fire Department held a pushing in ceremony to christen two new fire trucks that were recently purchased by the Town of Dracut.
A pushing in ceremony is a tradition that dates back to the days of horse-drawn fire carriages, which would be detached from the horses and pushed back into fire stations since horses cannot walk backward.
Fire Department Chaplain Rev. Larry Zimmerman led firefighters in a prayer to bless the two new trucks, which were then pushed into Station 1 by firefighters.
The trucks are both Ford F550 all wheel drive vehicles built by EOne. Both trucks carry 300 gallons of water, 30 gallons of Class A foam, and can pump 1,250 gallons of water per minute.
The trucks are designed as multi-purpose vehicles that can respond to the myriad emergencies that Dracut Firefighters face daily.
"The primary mission is medical responses, however both trucks are also equipped to fight building fires, brush fires, or to tow our marine units to water incidents," said Chief Patterson. "These trucks do not replace traditional, full-sized pumper trucks, but they will greatly reduce wear and tear on our pumper trucks, which cost about a million dollars each. We expect the Squad 1 and Squad 3 trucks to help us extend the life expectancy of our pumper trucks by about five years."
Each truck cost about $400,000, and were purchased as part of the Town of Dracut's capital expenditure plan.
"I want to thank the Town of Dracut for purchasing these two new trucks, which will increase our abilities to efficiently respond to calls," said Chief Patterson. "Responding to medical calls is a major part of what we do, and these two new trucks will enable us to respond to those calls without tying up our pumper trucks and larger equipment."
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