(VERNON, Connecticut) – Members of the Town of Vernon Fire Department will “wet down” two trucks during a ceremony Saturday, October 2nd, 2021 at 10 a.m. at Fire Station 4, located at 15 Nye Street.
A wet down ceremony is a tradition in the fire service, which dates back to the late 1800s. The horses that pulled steam-powered water pumps to fires were wet down after a call. A new truck is ceremonially sprayed with water. The truck and those who will operate it are then blessed by a member of the clergy. It is also an opportunity for the public to view the new trucks and meet the firefighters who use them to protect the community.
“Vernon is a community of dedicated volunteers, and our volunteer firefighters are among the most active and engaged,” Vernon Mayor Dan Champagne said. “They train weekly, respond to countless calls and are always there when their fellow residents need them. Ensuring our firefighters have up-to-date equipment serves all of us well.”
The trucks that will be wet down on Saturday are Squad 441, which is assigned to the Nye Street Fire Station, and Engine-Tank 341, which is assigned to the Talcottville Fire Station. Squad 441 is a 2021 Pierce Enforcer and Engine Tank 341 is a 2019 Pierce Enforcer.
Squad 441 represents an innovative and cost-effective consolidation of two trucks into one, Engine-Tank 441 and Rescue 441. Squad 441 carries rescue tools and other specialized equipment, as well as water and a pump. The consolidation of two trucks into one also represents a significant cost savings for taxpayers.
“It’s the combination of a rescue company and an engine company and brings a new level of efficiency to the fire department,” Fire Chief Stephen Eppler said. “With this new truck, firefighters will bring rescue equipment and traditional firefighting equipment to a call. There are instances when you need both, such as a motor vehicle crash. You need the rescue tools to get people out of the vehicle and you need a pumper truck in case there is a fire.”
Engine-Tank 441 was part of the Hockanum Hose Company. The company was established in 1854 in the former Rockville Fire Department when many mill owners sought protection for their industrial properties and the housing where the mill workers lived. Many mill workers joined the Hockanum Hose Company.
Rescue Company 441 was established in 1974 in the Rockville Fire Department and its original vehicle was a retired Vernon Police van. The Rockville and Vernon fire departments combined into the Town of Vernon Fire Department in 1980.
The Town of Vernon Volunteer Fire Department is always recruiting new members. For more information, please visit the department’s webpage at www.vernonfire.com.