VIDEO: Brevard County Fire Rescue ‘Push In’ Ceremony at South Melbourne Beach Fire Station 65

New vehicle for Station 65 is pumper/tender truck

ABOVE VIDEO: A new fire truck for the South Melbourne Beach area was officially placed into service during a traditional “Push In” ceremony on Friday at Brevard County Fire Rescue Fire Station 65, located at 7400 South A1A. (BCFR video)

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – A new fire truck for the South Melbourne Beach area was officially placed into service during a traditional “Push In” ceremony on Friday at Brevard County Fire Rescue Fire Station 65, located at 7400 South A1A.

Brevard County Fire Rescue Chief Mark Schollmeyer said a “Push In” is a long-standing tradition that dates back to when fire departments used horse-drawn pumpers for firefighting.

Horses that were commissioned, or placed into service, would be washed down (with water from the retiring pumper’s tank) along with the pumper they pulled.

Once wet down and dried, the pumper was pushed into the station by hand because the horses could not back up with the apparatus attached. The community, neighboring departments and elected officials would attend these ceremonies whenever a community purchased new apparatus or horses.

The new vehicle for Station 65 is a pumper/tender truck that includes a 1,500-gallon water tank and a Foam Pro Class A Foam system with 20-gallon foam tank.

“Today, the modern fire apparatus is either wet down with the retiring apparatus’ water or washed with a hose,” Schollmeyer said.

“The citizens and the fire department members then help dry the apparatus before helping push the new apparatus into its new home. The significance of the ceremony is to inform the surrounding community of the investment the County has made to the public safety of the citizens in that area. It’s also an opportunity for Fire Rescue to discuss the capabilities of the new equipment and what that means for local residents and visitors.”

Modern fire service has rapidly progressed in terms of technology and operating procedures, Schollmeyer said

“So rapidly, in fact, that we often forget how and why we do what we do,” he said. “Keeping traditions alive, such as the ‘Push In’ ceremony, gives us a rekindled interest in the history of our fire service and a sense of pride in the organization.”

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