The Albemarle Fire Department celebrated the addition of a new pumper, Engine 2, with a push-in ceremony Monday, August 26, the department said on albemarlenc.gov.
Members of the community were invited to see the new apparatus and help firefighters push Engine 2 into its home bay at Station 2. In the fire service, a push-in ceremony for equipment is a long-held tradition. Back in the 1800s, after crews returned from a call on horse-drawn equipment, the animals were unable to back into the station. Crews had to detach the horses and push the equipment into the bay.
“Engine 2 is a state-of-the-art truck and offers more safety features for our firefighters. The design and layout are also more efficient for them to use on emergency scenes,” said Kenny Kendall, City of Albemarle Interim Fire Chief.
Engine 2 is a 2023 Smeal pumper truck containing 1,100-feet of water supply line with a water tank that can hold 470 gallons of water and 30 gallons of foam. The truck also features a cab that can seat six firefighters.
Prior to putting the truck into service, Albemarle Firefighters visited the manufacturing facility in Nebraska to conduct final inspections. AFD reviewed the fire truck to ensure the specifications given to the manufacturer were followed in detail. The truck was then sent to North Carolina for equipment up-fitting.
The purchase of Engine 2 is part of the City of Albemarle’s Strategic Plan. The city is committed to the goal of safety and security by enhancing resources and improving practices to protect our residents and safeguard the city to improve the quality of life. In addition to purchasing this new fire truck, the City also recently funded a major refurbishment of Ladder Truck 11.
