Rockville Volunteer Fire Department hosted a dedication ceremony Saturday for its new 2022 Seagrave Fire Engine. Three minutes after the ceremony Engine 703 went into service for a report of a commercial building with an electrical burning order, wusa9.com reported.

After a traditional “push-in” housing, the apparatus was dedicated to former Fire Chief Scott E. Emmons, who committed his life to public safety, RVFD said. Several previous generations of RVFD Engine Companies were on display.

Engine 703 was purchased with donations and grant funding from the community.

CustomFIRE—Forada (MN) Fire Department Full Response pumper. Freightliner M2 cab and chassis; Cummins L9 360-hp engine; Waterous CMPA 1,250-gpm pump; 1,000-gallon polypropylene water tank; slide-in ground ladder and suction hose storage; wheel well SCBA and air pack storage; slide-out compartment tray. Dealer: Wayde Kirvida, CustomFIRE, Osceola, WI.

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Plover Fire Department took receipt of its new Rosenbauer fire engine about two months ago, and since then, members of the department have been prepping the vehicle to hit the streets, spmetrowire.com reported. It was finally service-ready Feb. 2.

The $721,000 vehicle was a planned replacement, as fire vehicles generally carry a life expectancy of 20-25 years, a fire official said.

Engine 1 carries 1,000 gallons of water, can pump 2,000 gallons per minute, and has a rear-mount pump; one of the few in the area, the report said.

Engine 1 comes with a six-person cab with collapsible seats and a lot of custom cabinets designed to hold axes, Halligan tools, chaps, handheld lights, extension cords, and other tools, according to the report.

Walton County first responders honored an old tradition Thursday to celebrate the Walton County Fire Rescue’s two new fire engines, wjhg.com reported.

Push-in ceremonies are a long-standing tradition in the fire service. This tradition dates back to the 1800s when engines were pulled by horses, and the horses were unable to walk backward with equipment still attached. Firefighters would disconnect the engine from the horses, wash the equipment and the horses down, and push the engine back into the station by hand.

As apparatuses were designed and improved, the need for horses faded away; however, firefighters continued to pay tribute to the history of the fire service with the washing down and blessing of a new apparatus.

On Thursday, Walton County Fire Rescue continued that tradition with the introduction of two new engines to the Walton County Fire Rescue fleet.

A county official said they were waiting on these trucks to arrive for over a year, the report said. He added that they are waiting two more years for their next truck to arrive, because the apparatuses have to be ordered at least two years in advance.