PHOTOS: The La Plata Fire Protection District is celebrating a shiny new addition to its fleet. On Sunday, the volunteer fire department held what’s called a push-in ceremony for its new fire truck, Engine 703. Junior Fire Captain Cash Sawyer told KTVO that a push-in ceremony is a decades-old fire service tradition.
He said it stems back to the days when fire engines were pulled by horses, and firefighters would push the engine back into the bay when they returned from a fire. Sunday’s ceremony officially places the new fire truck in service, and it’s now ready to respond to emergencies for years to come.
Even Missouri State Fire Marshal Tim Bean came to La Plata for the event. The La Plata Fire Protection District obtained a 12-year loan to pay for the new fire truck, but officials said they plan to make double payments to have it paid off in six years. The purchase of the new engine is being funded by revenue generated by a tax levy that supports the fire department.
