Fairmount Fire Company held a public event on Saturday at their firehouse on Vine Street to officially house their new Ladder 14 and Special Service 14 vehicles.
The event was held from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. and includes a DJ, pop-up beer garden, food trucks, a kids’ zone, raffles, giveaways, and more. The event also featured the ceremonial backing of the new vehicles, which is a custom that dates back to the 1800s when firefighters used horse-drawn equipment, according to Fairmount Fire Company spokesman Jim Gray.
“After a fire call, the horses would be detached from the equipment and members would then have to push the equipment back into the bay,” Gray said. “In honor of the past, fire departments hold a housing ceremony when taking delivery of a new apparatus.”
The new Ladder 14 truck is a 107-foot 2022 Pierce Ascendant, which is replacing the fire company’s 1984 Mack Ladder Truck. The special service vehicle was purchased several years ago to serve as a fire police vehicle, Gray said.
The new truck was purchased in part through an August 2021 FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG), which was secured by Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick. In total, the fire company received $857,142.86 in federal funding to purchase the truck.
Check out photos from the event below, courtesy of North Penn Now photographer Jimmy James.
See also:
Fairmount Fire Company to Host Community Event Saturday to House New Ladder Truck
Fairmount Fire Company Announces Spring Craft Show Fundraiser, Registration Now Open
Mayoral Musings: Fairmount Fire Company’s ‘Under the Lights’ Car Show This Saturday
Congressman Fitzpatrick Announces $857,000 Grant for Fairmount Fire Company
Photos: Open House at Fairmount Fire Company
