(Seguin) — The Seguin Fire Department is inviting the public to this weekend’s special “push-in” ceremony celebrating the arrival of its new aerial ladder truck. This event will take place at 10:30 am on Saturday at Central Fire Station.
According to city officials, the “push-in” ceremony is a cherished fire service tradition 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. In those days, they say fire apparatuses couldn’t easily be backed into the station with horses alone. After a call, firefighters would then disconnect the equipment from the horses and collectively push the fire apparatus back into the bays.
Seguin Fire Chief Dale Skinner says this latest piece of equipment will help in continuing to keep the community safe.
“We are excited to add this new ladder truck to our fleet and continue providing the highest level of service to our community,” said Skinner. “We look forward to having citizens come out for the push-in ceremony and learn more about the new engine.”
Truck 1, a 2023 Pierce equipped with a heavy-duty low profile steel aerial ladder, boasts what fire leaders say is a remarkable 100-foot vertical reach. Plus, it has a capacity of holding 450 gallons of water and is capable of pumping 2,000-gallons of water per minute. The truck also has an innovative rear steer feature (the rear tires turn with the front) for easier navigation throughout the downtown district and can be maneuvered in the tightest of spaces.
Following the ceremony, the public is invited to stick around for refreshments and a tour of the fire station. They will also receive an opportunity to visit with firefighters and capture memorable moments with the new apparatus.
The Central Fire Station is located at 110 Elm St.