Push-in ceremony announced for truck

The fire department announced it will put its new heavy rescue pumper truck into service on April 13.

Concord Township Fire Department announced it will put its new heavy rescue pumper truck into service on April 13, immediately following the township’s Easter egg hunt.

The new unit whose primary purpose will be to respond to accident scenes will be put into service with a traditional “push in ceremony” at 11:30 a.m. at Station No. 1 located at 11600 Concord Hambden Road.

According to Fire Chief Matt Sabo, the fire service is rich in tradition.

Years ago, the water pumpers were horse drawn. When firefighters returned to the station after responding to a fire they would have to unhitch the team and physically push the pumper back into the station.

It is from that task the tradition to push a new unit in came to be.

After the pumper is pushed into the station and declared in service, it will be pulled out, fully opened and put on display so the public can view it.

Also on display with the truck will be new equipment obtained by the fire department for use on the new truck. That includes hard plastic portable speed bumps and an LED stop sign.

These items will be used when responding to an accident scene to slow traffic down and reduce the risk of a firefighter being struck by an oncoming vehicle.

Immediately following the ceremony, the station will host an open house where residents will have the opportunity to learn about the programs and services offered at the fire station such as child safety seat education, residential lock boxes, CPR classes and smoke detectors.

Sabo said heand the firefighters of Station No. 1 are excited to put this unit into service and encourage the township residents to come out and celebrate with them.

“We look forward to this opportunity for the community to not only witness us performing this long standing tradition in the fire service, but also see how the firefighters live and work and the environment they do both in in its current state,” Sabo said.

KRISTI GARABRANDT — THE NEWS-HERALD Concord Township Fire Department recently took possession of a brand new rescue pumper. Fire Chief Matt Sabo hopes to have the truck up-fitted and put into service by mid April.