Ocala Fire Rescue welcomed a new Aircraft Rescue Firefighting (ARFF) apparatus on Friday morning during a “push-in” ceremony.
Elected officials, community members and firefighters gathered at Fire Station No. 4, at 3300 SW 20th St., to witness the welcoming of ARFF1, the first vehicle of its kind manufactured by E-One.
The ceremony included a brief address by Fire Chief Shane Alexander, who spoke of the apparatus’ features, the project’s funding sources and the history behind the ceremony. Then, it was time for the “pushing-in” of the apparatus to begin.
With ARFF team member Edward Floyd behind the wheel, firefighters lined themselves in front of the apparatus and prepared to push it into the fire station bay. Having completed the tradition dating back to the 1800s, when horse-drawn steam engines were pushed back into the station by firefighters after a call, ARFF1 was announced to be officially in service.
“During my career with Ocala Fire Rescue, I’ve witnessed the addition of two ARFF vehicles to our fleet,” Alexander said. “Considering these purchases occurred 21 years apart, receiving this state-of-the-art apparatus, custom-built to fit Ocala’s aircraft firefighting and hazard mitigation needs, is exciting and humbling.”
