With the help of current and retired firefighters, as well as community members, the Sycamore Fire Department welcomed its brand-new fire engine with a special "wet-down" ceremony under hot, sunny skies on June 11. The traditional ceremony, which dates back to the 1800s, involves the transfer of water from the old fire engine to the new one and a spraying from retired firefighters.
The new engine, which will replace the old Engine No. 1, was made possible by a $405,000 federal grant the fire department received in 2014. The city of Sycamore chipped in a small amount to cover the difference between the grant and the cost of the engine. Polarek said the new engine, which took just about a year to build, was necessary because the old 1979 Mack engine was past its service life.
Sycamore Mayor Ken Mundy said the department and city were blessed with the grant because it saved the taxpayers a lot of money.
“The ’79 Mack served us well, but this is an opportunity to provide a state-of-the-art engine with new technology, and that’s a wonderful thing for the city,” he said.