The North Star Volunteer Fire Department marked a special milestone this week โ officially welcoming a brand-new fire engine with a time-honored tradition.
The department held a “Push-In” Ceremony Tuesday evening at their headquarters on Bradway Road. The event coincided with their regular training night and was open to the public through announcements on social media.
The evening began with Captain Will Wright sharing the origins of the Push-In Ceremony โ a tradition dating back to the days when fire crews had to physically push their equipment back into the station after each call. That was followed by a blessing of the new engine, led by department chaplain and Board President Philip Wyman, who asked for protection over the firefighters who will serve aboard it. Staying true to custom, the newest member of the department โ firefighter Kelso Burke of California โ took the driverโs seat to operate the brakes, while fellow firefighters and attendees joined together to push the engine into its bay.
The new apparatus is a Pierce Pumper Tanker combo with a 2,000-gallon water capacity, 1250-gallon-per-minute pump, 550-horsepower engine, and seating for four. It also includes anti-lock brakes and an Arctic insulation package for the pump.
