Wetdown

A wetdown is a ritual celebrated by many volunteer fire departments in the United States in which squads of firefighters from neighboring towns ritualistically commission a new fire apparatus by anointing it with water sprayed from the visitors' firefighting equipment.

For the U.S. Navy ceremony, see Wetting-down. For the ceremonial water salute given to vehicles, including ships and airplanes, see Water salute.
Great River Fire Department's first due engine being wetdown.

If two new apparatus' are commissioned, then it is considered to be a "Double Wetdown". If three new apparatus' are commissioned, then it is called a "Triple Wetdown". Or if four new apparatus' are commissioned, then it is considered as a "Quadruple Wetdown".

History

The tradition dates back to the late 1800's when fire departments used horses to pull a fire apparatus to fires. After fighting the fire, the crews would wash and ready the horses and the apparatus in preparation for the next call, then they would push the apparatus into the station's bay.[1][2][3]

Wetdown at present
  • Paducah Fire Department - August 31, 2020[4]
  • Lynchburg Fire Department - March 11, 2020[5]
  • Amarillo Fire Department - October 08, 2018[6]
  • Plano's Fire Station 2 - April 26, 2018[1]

References
  1. "What's a fire truck wetdown and push-in? A free, fun place to take toddlers Thursday in Plano". Dallas News. 2018-04-24. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
  2. "Push back ceremony held to celebrate arrival of new fire trucks". Seminole State College. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
  3. "Tradition: Wetdowns and Push-Ins". Fire Engineering. 2014-12-22. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
  4. "Wetdown and Housing Ceremony for Tower 6 | City of Paducah". paducahky.gov. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
  5. McComsey, Laura Taylor & Hannah (2020-03-10). "Lynchburg Fire Department dedicates new fire engine with traditional Wet Down Ceremony". WSET. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
  6. "AFD Station 6 invites community to 'Wet Down' and 'Push In' ceremony for new truck". newschannel10.com. Retrieved 2020-12-29.
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