Plant City Fire Rescue expands its capabilities.
Seventy-five city officials, firefighters, and supporters turned out on September 19 for the push-in ceremony that marked the official beginning of service for Plant City Fire Rescue’s new ladder truck. “The Push-In Ceremony dates back more than a century to the era of horse-drawn fire engines,” Deputy Chief Michael Brown read from the podium set up for the event. “In those early days, when a crew returned from a call, horses could not back the heavy wagons into the station. Firefighters would unhitch the horses, gather together, and physically push the apparatus back into the bay. This ritual became a mark of teamwork, pride, and the daily routine of the firehouse. As motorized engines replaced horse-drawn wagons in the early 1900s, the tradition carried forward as a way to connect generations of firefighters to their shared heritage. Today, the Push-In Ceremony serves as a symbolic moment to welcome new fire apparatus into service while honoring the history, progress, and enduring spirit of the fire service.”
Fire Chief David Dittman then addressed the assembly. “It is a privilege to stand before you today as we place our new Truck 1 officially into service,” he said. “This apparatus represents a tremendous step forward for our department and for the citizens we proudly serve. With its advanced capabilities, this ladder enhances our ability to protect lives and property, whether it is reaching greater heights for rescue, improving fire ground operations, or strengthening our overall emergency response.”
This new ladder truck cost $1,409,560. The apparatus specification committee for the truck was Battalion Chief John Carter, Captain Matt Powell, Captain Nate Powell, and Driver-Engineer Joe Mitchell. Their expertise and countless hours planning and coordinating, made possible bringing the truck into service. “I keep looking at this truck, this beautiful piece of equipment, and it strikes me how much this reflects the professionalism and capabilities of our fire department,” City Manager Bill McDaniel told the crowd. “It represents the services that are delivered to our entire community, and it’s such a great condition that we have in our city that we are able to provide equipment of this level to support public safety….It makes me proud that we are at a point where we can do this type of thing for our city, and for our Fire Rescue Department.”
Features of the truck are:
-A new paint scheme and graphics
-A 2,000-gallons-per-minute pump; compared to
the previous ladder’s 1,500 gpm capability
-It has a platform, not just a ladder
-It carries 5-inch supply hose instead of 4-inch
-It has cameras on both sides, in the rear, and
on the bucket
-It has a better suspension than previous trucks
-It carries a new thermal imaging camera
-It offers new, heavier-duty rescue jacks
-It’s new. The prior ladder was a 2010 model
-It has a HAAS alerting system which uses apps to alert drivers of the oncoming truck when it is rushing to rescue
“It’s always a great day in Plant City, and today it is extra special when we have this opportunity,” Mayor Nate Kilton said. “The most important thing in this today is to make sure that with this ceremony, you all recognize that you are in a community where you are appreciated and valued. My prayer for you all is that you are going to be safe out there, and healthy in your physical well-being, your mental well-being, and your spiritual well-being, and that you and your families are going to be taken care of by your community. Blessings to all of you.”
Before the push-in, Division Chief of Training, Dustin Hill, spoke. “This new apparatus is dedicated to the continued safety and service of the citizens of the City of Plant City,” he said. “May it always return home safely. And may those who ride it be guided by courage, compassion, and commitment to duty. Now, in the spirit of tradition and progress, we invite all available personnel, past and present, and our honored guests to join us in pushing Truck 1 into its new home. With our hands and hearts, we continue the legacy.” More than a dozen people then pushed the truck into its bay.
The 110-foot platform basket at the top of the ladder allows firefighters to work from a stable position, which is both safer and more effective than a traditional straight ladder for high-elevation operations, and reaches higher to rescue people and it also gives an elevated point of fire suppression. This makes it especially valuable during blazes at large commercial, industrial, or multi-story structures.
“This 110-foot platform is an upgrade from the original ladder they were using at 75 feet,” Fire Rescue Chief David Dittman said after the ceremony. “So, we have more height, more reach, more extension, and we can provide more services to our citizens of Plant City. It’s a beautiful truck. It is the crown jewel of our fleet right now, and it gives our firefighters much more tactical advantage, not only for structural fires, but, rescue, auto wrecks, extrications, and things of that nature. It gives us such a great advantage. Having the city support our fire department by purchasing a vehicle of this magnitude just shows the investment they have in us and the growth of our Fire Rescue Department in the city.”
