This morning the San Carlos Park Fire District introduced the newest member of its fleet- Engine 51, a 2017 Pierce Velocity Pumper, during a Push-In Ceremony, a fire service tradition dating back nearly 200 years.
The Push-In ritual dates back to the 1800’s when horse drawn pumpers were used throughout the nation’s Fire Service. Horses commissioned for service would be washed along with the pumper at their newly assigned firehouse and backed into the firehouse bay. The firefighters would then fit the new horse with its harness placing the company in service. After every run, firefighters had to hand push their pumpers back into the bay and ready themselves for the next alarm.
When new horses or pumpers were purchased by neighboring firehouses, department chiefs, and citizens from the surrounding community would attend the ceremony to celebrate the new powerful addition to their neighborhood firehouse. Local clergy came to bestow blessings upon the horse throwing holy water unto it for long life, strength, speed and good health. The blessing would serve to ward off any evil spirits. Today, fire departments continue to celebrate this tradition with the help of a driver in the seat and the engine’s transmission in reverse.
This morning,in the spirit of tradition, San Carlos Park Fire District’s newest apparatus was wet-down, wiped dry by attendees, blessed by the Chaplin, and slowly pushed backwards into the bay by firefighters.
