Rachel Engel

Rendering Aid

Apparatus push-in ceremonies: A long-held tradition that unites communities

The ceremony dates back to the days of horse-drawn equipment when members had to push the equipment into the bay

Share your push-in ceremony photos or video with us at editor@firerescue1.com.

Like the armed forces, part of the appeal of the fire service is its deep connection and reverence for tradition, from the iconic sound of the bagpipe to the now-ceremonial apparatus push-in.

Beginning in the 1800s, after crews returned from a call on horse-drawn equipment, the animals were unable to back into the station, requiring members to detach the horses and push the equipment into the bay. Over time, with the invention and adoption of motorized apparatus, the need to manually move the equipment was gone.

However, the legacy of the push-in was secured.

Now, in honor of those early crews, many fire departments hold a push-in ceremony when taking delivery of a new apparatus, often inviting community members to celebrate the exciting moment their tax dollars helped make possible.

Check out this roundup of push-in ceremonies and send us a photo or video of your department’s event to editor@firerescue1.com.

Roswell (Ga.) Fire Department

The Roswell community came out to Fire Station 21 last week to help us commission @RoswellGAFire’s new @Sutphenfire ladder truck and place it in service! #community #publicsafety #publicengagement pic.twitter.com/FNRKLbLRym
— Roswell Fire (@RoswellGAFire) July 5, 2022

Deerfield Beach (Fla.) Fire Rescue

Today, @browardsheriff Fire Rescue officially put New #DFB Engine #66 into service with a Push-In Ceremony. The Push-In Ceremony tradition dates back to the 1800's when firefighting equipment was pulled by horses. Thank You for keeping our community safe! #LoveDFB #FireRescue 🚒 pic.twitter.com/NnAk4reEi3
— City of Deerfield Beach (@DFB_City) May 25, 2022

Orlando (Fla.) Fire Department

NEW to “The Lions Den” as crews welcomed new Engine 15 to the station with a traditional push-in ceremony. pic.twitter.com/8MCb5j5mAR
— Orlando Fire Dept (@OrlandoFireDept) June 26, 2020

Charlottesville (Va.) Fire Department

CFD New Engine Push-in ceremony. pic.twitter.com/8LrDGpKhjl
— Charlottesville Fire (@CvilleFireDept) March 26, 2016

Asheville (N.C.) Fire Department

AFD has taken delivery of a new KME fire engine assigned to E-11. It is designed using the most up-to-date technology to maximize FF safety and effectiveness. @SafeIndustries AFD performed the traditional “push-in” ceremony at Station 11! pic.twitter.com/TFvtQcBfeB
— ASHEVILLE FIRE DEPT (@AshevilleFD) February 23, 2022

Walton County (Fla.) Fire Rescue

The celebration of the arrival of a new apparatus has been a source of pride for fire departments for more than 100 yrs, which includes having the #firefighters & community members push the new apparatus into the fire station. Today, WCFR hosted their first ever push-in ceremony. pic.twitter.com/t5cZgnqADL
— Walton County Fire Rescue (@WCFRFL) July 9, 2018

Carson City (Nev.) Fire Department

Carson City Fire put into service Ladder 50 at 0900 this morning with the traditional push-in ceremony. Ladder 50 is a tiller driven truck with an aerial ladder that extends to 107 feet, it has been over 10 yrs since Carson City had a ladder truck - https://t.co/01EZHUUFh2 pic.twitter.com/sfV3f8J1zw
— Carson City Fire Department (@CarsonFireDept) December 16, 2020

Albemarle (Va.) Fire Rescue

We had a push-in ceremony to celebrate a new fire engine now in service at Station 16 (Pantops).

Push-in ceremonies call back to the 1800's when apparatus was pulled by horses and had to be pushed into the bay.

We don't have the horses, but we still have the traditions. pic.twitter.com/otyGPqreMv
— Albemarle FireRescue (@AlbemarleFire) October 6, 2021

Dorchester County (S.C.) Fire Rescue

Earlier today, #DorchesterCountySC Fire Rescue
introduced, Engine 421, the newest member of its fleet by going old school with the revival of the traditional “Push-In” Ceremony and a “Wet-Down.”

Engine 421 will serve residents in the Ladson Community. #DCFR #OneCountyOneMission pic.twitter.com/WpTOp5w3Qw
— Dorchester County (@DorchesterSCGov) May 7, 2018

South County (Wash.) Fire

Firefighters welcome our newest fire engine to service at Martha Lake Fire Station 21 with a push-in ceremony. This tradition goes back to the days of horse-drawn fire equipment. When returning to the station, firefighters had to unhitch the horses and “push in” the fire wagon. pic.twitter.com/Ajo8pYsTuQ
— South County Fire (@SouthSnoFire) June 10, 2020

Wyoming (Mich.) Fire Department

Placentia (Calif.) Fire and Life Safety members push in a new engine on July 1, 2020. (Photo/Placentia (Calif.) Fire Department)

Members of the Pasco (Fla.) Fire Rescue participated in a push-in ceremony for Ladder 19 on July 9, 2020. (Photo/Pasco (Fla.) Fire Rescue)

Carrboro (N.C.) Fire-Rescue members laugh as they push in a new tanker truck on May 26, 2022. (Photo/Carrboro (N.C.) Fire-Rescue)

Robins Air Force Base Fire Department members help push one of the two new water trucks into the bay at Fire Station 2 at RAFB, Georgia, on June 5, 2020. (Photo/USAF via DVIDS)

Crews with the Iona McGregor Fire District push in an apparatus on March 20, 2019. (Photo/Iona McGregor Fire District)

The North Andover (Mass.) Fire Department chief, deputy chief, town manager, select board, active members and retirees participated in a push-in ceremony on July 17, 2020. (Photo/North Andover (Mass.) Fire Department)

The Oak Ridge Fire Department conducted an official push-in ceremony for Tanker-51 on Jan. 14, 2018. (Oak Ridge (N.C.) Fire Department)

Members of the community participate in Truck 21's push-in ceremony at Roswell (Ga.) Fire Department. (Photo/Courtesy of Stanley Leary)

About the author

Rachel Engel is an award-winning journalist and the senior editor of FireRescue1.com and EMS1.com. In addition to her regular editing duties, Engel seeks to tell the heroic, human stories of first responders and the importance of their work. She earned her bachelor's degree in communications from Cameron University in Lawton, Oklahoma, and began her career as a freelance writer, focusing on government and military issues. Engel joined Lexipol in 2015 and has since reported on issues related to public safety. Engel lives in Wichita, Kansas. She can be reached via email.