Ferrara—West Chicago (IL) Fire Protection District top-mount controls pumper. Igniter SMFD cab and chassis; Cummins L9 450-hp engine; Waterous CSU 1,500-gpm pump; 750-gallon polypropylene water tank; Hendrickson Steertek NTX front axle; Ziamatic Quick Lift ladder rack. Dealer: Mark Nixon, AEC Fire & Safety, Springfield, IL.

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Two new fire engines were put into service following “push back” ceremonies, West Pierce Fire & Rescue said in a news release.

Historically, when a new piece of apparatus is added to the fleet, it is customary to bless the vehicle, wash it and push it back into the apparatus bay, signifying it is ready to respond to the next emergency. This tradition dates back to the 1800s where the fire service had horse-drawn equipment. Since the animals were unable to back into the station, firefighters had to detach the horses and push the equipment into the bay.

Around town, the community will notice Engine 22, which runs out of the Lake City station and Engine 24, which runs out of the Oakbrook station, as the newest vehicles in West Pierce Fire & Rescue’s fleet.

Each of these engines were blessed by WPFR chaplains, washed and pushed back into their bays by West Pierce personnel, ready and waiting to run their first 9-1-1 call.

These engines were purchased in mid-2020, but due to production time, were recently delivered and ready to be placed in service. Both engines being replaced were from 2008 and will be placed in reserve status.

Bethany (OK) Fire & Rescue posed the following news release on its Facebook page Friday:

“Our new engine has finally arrived!!! Engine 2 was delivered today and will be a much needed replacement for our current reserve truck. A special thanks to our city and all involved in making it possible. We’re fortunate to be a part of a community that supports us and our mission and who also recognizes our needs so that we may provide the best, most reliable service to our citizens when it counts.”

Sapulpa Fire Department opened a new station last week, KTUL.com reported. The fire department plans to hold an open house later and will release a date for it soon.

Fire Station 3 was originally built in the late 1970s and opened in 1978.

The newly constructed station is on the south side of town and houses E-3, Brush-3, Boat-1, and its rescue trailer.

Halton Hills Council has approved an additional $250,000 for the purchase of a new aerial ladder fire truck for the local fire department, haltonhillstoday.ca reported.

The decision, made during this week’s council meeting, takes the budget for the new vehicle from $1.8 million to $2.05 million, the report said. The additional funds to compensate for an increase in the cost of parts, labor and more will come out of the town’s equipment replacement reserve, the report said.

Once purchased, the new aerial ladder truck will replace the Halton Hills Fire Department’s (HHFD) sole ladder truck, which staff says is at the end of its service life, according to the report. It’s a 2003 model that was bought in 2004.

The current truck has a 65-foot-long ladder and can dispense 5,000 litres of water per minute. However, staff says that height is not considered sufficient for the needs of the municipality and a better-suited one is required.

Citing logistical and economic issues, the town will be opting to buy a stock or demo model aerial ladder truck instead of a custom one this time around, the report said.

The town will buy from the lowest bidder that complies with what the municipality is looking for, according to the report.