On Jan. 15, James City County firefighters and Board of Supervisors member Ruth Larson performed the time-honored tradition of the push-in ceremony for the new Ladder 31 truck. A push-in ceremony is a firefighter tradition to inaugurate a new apparatus such as an engine or ambulance. The tradition recalls the days before motorized fire apparatus, when garaging a hand-drawn hose cart or a horse-drawn steam engine in the firehouse required a hands-on approach.
Ladder 31 is a 2019 Pierce 107 foot ladder truck that replaces the Quint 3, a 2003 Pierce 85 foot ladder truck that had reached the end its service expectancy. The new truck has improved safety features, increased water capacity and a shorter overall length to help with maneuverability. The longer reach of 107 foot ladder compared to Quint 3’s 85 foot ladder helps overcome the setbacks from the road on many of our homes and buildings.
The new $1.2 million truck was planned for and funded through the Fiscal Year 2019 Capital Improvement Plan budget.
Media Contact:
Ryan Ashe, Fire Chief
757-565-7604; ryan.ashe@jamescitycountyva.gov