The Paducah Fire Department is inviting the community to drive by Paducah Fire Station No. 5 located at 1714 Broadway for a Wetdown and Housing Ceremony for Tower 6, the department’s new platform fire truck which went into service this month. The ceremony will be at 4 p.m. on Monday, August 31. However, the truck will be parked for the community to view until 6 p.m.
Using social distancing, at 4 p.m. members of the Fire Department and the Paducah Board of Commissioners will welcome the newest addition to Paducah’s fleet. A wetdown ceremony is a tradition of fire departments across the country which involves spraying down a new apparatus, hand drying it, and then pushing it into the station. The tradition dates back to the late 1800’s when departments used horses to pull a fire apparatus to fires. After fighting the fire, the crews would wash and ready the horses and the apparatus in preparation for the next call. Then, they would push the apparatus into the station’s bay.
The 43-foot long Tower 6 replaces the Paducah Fire Department’s 1995 ladder truck. This new truck has a 2000 gallons per minute (gpm) pump. It’s more maneuverable in tight spaces with the need for only a 22-foot setback. Plus, it can operate 100 feet above ground or 20 feet below ground with rope rescue capability. The platform allows for a safe, secure area to fight fires, haul equipment, and conduct rescues without the need for a civilian to descend the ladder. The safety features for the firefighters include side impact protection.
The new truck is a 100’ Platform Aerial manufactured by Pierce Manufacturing in Appleton, Wisconsin.
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