Community members across Zionsville came together with elected officials and firefighters to participate in a historic tradition to celebrate the introduction of a new fire engine and the relocation of a ladder truck at two stations in the town.
Yesterday afternoon, the Zionsville Fire Department was joined by Mayor John Stehr, elected officials, current and retired firefighters and nearly 80 members of the community at Stations 291 and 293 for a Push-In Ceremony. The ceremony celebrated the new Engine 293 that will be going into service as well as the relocation of Ladder 291 at the two respective stations.
The Push-In Ceremony is a fire service tradition that dates back to the late 1800s when fire departments utilized hand-drawn pumpers and horse-drawn equipment. Following fighting a fire, the crews would wash and ready the horses and the apparatus in preparation for their next call. Since the horses were unable to easily back the apparatus into the department, crews would push the apparatus back into the station’s bay.
As a nod to the tradition, modern fire departments continue the act as new fire trucks are placed in service at their new stations and pushed into the service bays.
– Photos courtesy of ZFD
