DRACUT — Chief Michael Cunha is pleased to report that the Dracut Fire Department held a traditional pushing in ceremony to christen a new fire engine that is replacing the department’s aging Engine 1.
A pushing in ceremony is a tradition that hails from the days when firefighters used horse-drawn carriages, and would push carriages back into the fire station by hand after returning from each call.
“This symbolic act of pushing the truck into the station is done to show respect for the service provided years ago,” said Chief Cunha. “Today, we honor that tradition with modern fire trucks, as a reminder of where we’ve come from and why we do what we do.”
On Saturday morning, Chief Cunha offered a brief speech before Fire Department Chaplain Rev. Larry Zimmerman led firefighters in a prayer to bless the new truck. The truck was then pushed into Station 1 by firefighters.
The new Engine 1 is 2024 E-One Typhoon fire engine, that can pump up to 1,500 gallons of water per minute. It also has a tank that holds 750 gallons of water and another tank that holds 30 gallons of firefighting foam.
The truck is equipped with anti-roll safety features, a backup camera, and an exhaust system that is designed to reduce the amount of harmful pollutants the truck emits, which benefits firefighter safety and health.
The new engine replaces an aging 1995 E-One Typhoon engine that has outlived its intended lifespan. The arrival of the new engine also means that the department’s 2009 E-One Typhoon engine can be moved into spare status.
The new truck cost the town approximately $760,000. The town appropriated $830,000, which also covers equipment for the truck, in 2022.
“This new apparatus represents far more than just a vehicle — it represents the hours of training, preparation, and teamwork that go into ensuring we are ready to serve when duty calls. It symbolizes our commitment to maintaining the highest standards of safety and excellence for our firefighters, and it ensures that we are equipped to respond to emergencies with the latest technology and capability,” said Chief Cunha.
The Dracut Fire Department would like to thank the Town of Dracut and the town’s leadership for making this important purchase possible. The Department would also like to thank members of the Truck Committee for their hard work to determine the specifications that would be needed for the new truck. Members of the committee included Capt. Kevin Bigold, retired Lt. Kevin Martin, Firefighter Tom Joyce and Firefighter Chris Gagne.
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