PLYMOUTH — Chief G. Edward Bradley is pleased to announce that the Plymouth Fire Department has unveiled its brand-new truck, Engine 4, at a christening or “wet-down” dedication ceremony today.
In accordance with a long-standing fire service tradition in the United States, the Plymouth Fire Department welcomed its newest engine into service with a ceremonial wet-down at Plymouth Station 4, 533 Bourne Road, today.
The wet-down is a ritual that dates back to the late 1800s, when horse-drawn pumpers were used throughout the fire service. Back then, newly commissioned horses would be washed alongside their pumpers at the fire house before being pushed back into the fire house bay by firefighters. While horse-drawn pumpers are now a relic of the past, the tradition continues today as fire departments welcome their new apparatus and officially induct them into service.
Chief Bradley and members of the Plymouth Fire Department were joined by Assistant Town Manager Marlene McCollem, Select Board Chairman Ken Travares and Department Chaplain Rev. Gary Blume to see Engine 4 officially put into service.
A proverbial passing of the torch commenced at the ceremony when the now-out-of-service engine sprayed Engine 4 with its hose. Plymouth Engine 4 Firefighter Patrick Larivee’s son Liam assisted with the wet-down. Members of the department then used towels to dry the truck.
As part of the ceremony, Chaplain Rev. Gary Blume blessed the engine and firefighters then placed their hands on Engine 4 and pretended to push it into the apparatus bay while it reversed into place.
The ceremony also included remarks from Deputy Chief Neil Foley and Firefighter Douglas Houston.
Funding for the apparatus was approved at the 2019 Town Meeting and it replaces the department’s 2004 Pierce Dash pumper. The apparatus will be housed at the Plymouth Station 4.
“Without the support we received from Town Management, the Finance Committee, the members of Select Board, Town Meeting members and of course the citizens of Plymouth, the addition of Engine 4 to our fleet would not have been possible,” Chief Bradley said. “While the process of building a new engine is extremely long and tedious, it is well worth it and we are thrilled to be officially putting Engine 4 into service.”
Engine 4 features modern highway safety construction for additional protection for firefighters. The engine has a smaller wheelbase that allows the engine to be more maneuverable, which assists Plymouth Firefighters when responding to areas in Plymouth with tight roads.
The engine also features a 1,500 gallon per minute pump, a 1,000 gallon water tank (which is an upgrade from its predecessor that only had 750 gallons), a built-in 10 kilowatt hydraulic generator and light tower, and rescue tools including the Jaws of Life.
With the amount of areas in Engine 4’s district that do not have access to fire hydrants, the 1,000 gallon water tank will drastically enhance the firefighting capabilities for that area of Town.
Engine 4, a 2021 E-One Cyclone 2, was built by E-One at their Ocala Florida factory.
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