Late last week King George Fire and Rescue conducted a traditional ceremony to place a new engine into service at Company 1.
The “wet down” is rooted in the 1800’s fire service, at a time when departments used horses to pull steam engines to fires. Afterwards, the crews would wash down and ready the horses and pumpers in preparation for the next call. There were also occasions where neighboring fire departments would “anoint” a station’s new equipment prior to going into service by spraying it down.
Today, the wet down of a new apparatus symbolizes the blessing, or passing of the torch, from the apparatus that is being replaced. While the old Engine 1 is remaining in the fleet at its new home in Fairview Beach, it has served the fire fighters of company 1 for over 10 years.
Photos: King George Fire and Rescue
