Pushing a new piece of apparatus into its bay dates back to the mid-1800s when horse drawn wagons had to be backed into their stations, said Fire Chief Bill Gaul. Weighing in at about 21 tons, the new engine is considerably heavier than a wagon, so firefighters will get some help from the vehicle’s own engine, the fire department said in a statement.  

The new Pierce Saber Engine replaces a 17-year-old engine that will be used for backup when one of the department’s five front-line engines is out of service. The new engine is lighter and more maneuverable than the one it replaces.