Editor’s Note: Share your push-in ceremony photos or video with us at editor@firerescue1.com.
Like the armed forces, part of the appeal of the fire service is its deep connection and reverence for tradition, from the iconic sound of the bagpipe to the now-ceremonial apparatus push-in.
Beginning in the 1800s, after crews returned from a call on horse-drawn equipment, the animals were unable to back into the station, requiring members to detach the horses and push the equipment into the bay. Over time, with the invention and adoption of motorized apparatus, the need to manually move the equipment was gone.
However, the legacy of the push-in was secured.
Now, in honor of those early crews, many fire departments hold a push-in ceremony when taking delivery of a new apparatus, often inviting community members to celebrate the exciting moment their tax dollars helped make possible.
Check out this roundup of push-in ceremonies and send us a photo or video of your department’s event to editor@firerescue1.com.
Roswell (Ga.) Fire Department
The Roswell community came out to Fire Station 21 last week to help us commission @RoswellGAFire’s new @Sutphenfire ladder truck and place it in service! #community #publicsafety #publicengagement pic.twitter.com/FNRKLbLRym
— Roswell Fire Department (@RoswellGAFire) July 5, 2022
Orlando (Fla.) Fire Department
NEW to “The Lions Den” as crews welcomed new Engine 15 to the station with a traditional push-in ceremony. pic.twitter.com/8MCb5j5mAR
— Orlando Fire Dept (@OrlandoFireDept) June 26, 2020
Charlottesville (Va.) Fire Department
CFD New Engine Push-in ceremony. pic.twitter.com/8LrDGpKhjl
— Charlottesville Fire (@CvilleFireDept) March 26, 2016
Asheville (N.C.) Fire Department
AFD has taken delivery of a new KME fire engine assigned to E-11. It is designed using the most up-to-date technology to maximize FF safety and effectiveness. @SafeIndustries AFD performed the traditional “push-in” ceremony at Station 11! pic.twitter.com/TFvtQcBfeB
— ASHEVILLE FIRE DEPT (@AshevilleFD) February 23, 2022
Walton County (Fla.) Fire Rescue
The celebration of the arrival of a new apparatus has been a source of pride for fire departments for more than 100 yrs, which includes having the #firefighters & community members push the new apparatus into the fire station. Today, WCFR hosted their first ever push-in ceremony. pic.twitter.com/t5cZgnqADL
— Walton County Fire Rescue (@WCFRFL) July 9, 2018
Carson City (Nev.) Fire Department
Carson City Fire put into service Ladder 50 at 0900 this morning with the traditional push-in ceremony. Ladder 50 is a tiller driven truck with an aerial ladder that extends to 107 feet, it has been over 10 yrs since Carson City had a ladder truck - https://t.co/01EZHUUFh2 pic.twitter.com/sfV3f8J1zw
— Carson City Fire Department (@CarsonFireDept) December 16, 2020
Albemarle (Va.) Fire Rescue
We had a push-in ceremony to celebrate a new fire engine now in service at Station 16 (Pantops).
— Albemarle County Fire Rescue (@AlbemarleFire) October 6, 2021
Push-in ceremonies call back to the 1800's when apparatus was pulled by horses and had to be pushed into the bay.
We don't have the horses, but we still have the traditions. pic.twitter.com/otyGPqreMv
Dorchester County (S.C.) Fire Rescue
Earlier today, #DorchesterCountySC Fire Rescue
— Dorchester County (@DorchesterSCGov) May 7, 2018
introduced, Engine 421, the newest member of its fleet by going old school with the revival of the traditional “Push-In” Ceremony and a “Wet-Down.”
Engine 421 will serve residents in the Ladson Community. #DCFR #OneCountyOneMission pic.twitter.com/WpTOp5w3Qw
South County (Wash.) Fire
Firefighters welcome our newest fire engine to service at Martha Lake Fire Station 21 with a push-in ceremony. This tradition goes back to the days of horse-drawn fire equipment. When returning to the station, firefighters had to unhitch the horses and “push in” the fire wagon. pic.twitter.com/Ajo8pYsTuQ
— South County Fire (@SouthSnoFire) June 10, 2020
Wyoming (Mich.) Fire Department
