The Greenwood Fire Department will hold a push-in ceremony for a new unique ladder truck on Friday.
A new Seagrave tractor-drawn aerial, also known as a Tiller truck, will be put into service. The Tiller truck’s design includes two drivers: one in the main cab at the front and a second in the rear cab at the back of the trailer. The rear driver, known as a “Tillerman,” is responsible for steering the trailer. This unique configuration allows the truck to navigate through tighter corners than traditional ladder trucks, helping improve responses, according to a Greenwood Fire Department news release.
The new Tiller truck also features Seagrave’s Marauder cab and a 100-foot ladder, equipped with state-of-the-art Holmatro extrication equipment, a winch and a comprehensive array of rescue tools that were previously housed on GFD’s Rescue 91.
To mark the occasion, the department is inviting the community to attend a push-in ceremony for the truck at 1 p.m. Friday. The ceremony will take place at Greenwood Fire Station 91, 155 E. Main St., fire officials say.
Push-in ceremonies are a cherished tradition in the fire service, symbolizing the official placement of new apparatus into service. The term “push-in” originates from the early days of firefighting when fire departments used horse-drawn apparatus. After responding to a fire or call, firefighters would push the apparatus back into the bay to prepare for the next emergency, as they were unable to back the horses into the bay like they do today with engine-powered apparatus. This time-honored tradition continues as a way to honor the commitment to service and readiness, according to the news release.
Those unable to attend the ceremony can see coverage in the Daily Journal online Friday evening and in Tuesday’s print edition.
