PORT CHARLOTTE — Charlotte County Fire & EMS staff and Charlotte County commissioners pushed a new fire truck in to Station 2 on Friday.
Crews along with Commissioners Joe Tiseo and Bill Truex helping ceremonially pushed Engine 2 into Station 2.
Doing so is tradition. The pushing, by more than a dozen people, was assisted by the truck reversing into the garage.
Push-in ceremonies date back to the 1800s, according to Charlotte County Fire & EMS officials. Apparatus was pulled by horses, and backing it into the building to be ready for the next fire was easier without the animals hitched up.
Today, trucks are a lot heavier than they were back then.
Officials say the Engine 2 has already been helping out in the community, despite just now getting its dedication.
“Engine 2 didn’t exactly wait for the ceremony to get to work,” Charlotte County Fire & EMS stated on social media. “Since being placed in service, it has responded to numerous calls, including the RV and garage fire on Sansedro Street and the house fire on Knight Island.”
It’ll have its new area to serve, officials stated.
“Now officially pushed into its new home, Engine 2 will continue serving the Murdock area and surrounding communities 24/7. It may be new, but it has already proven it is ready to answer the call,” officials stated.