In a matter of seconds, dozens of people surrounded the Greenwood fire truck.
Then a few seconds later, the brand-new truck began to back up and the crowd began to push it into Greenwood Fire Station 91/Headquarters. Soon-after, cheers erupted as the Greenwood Fire Department’s newest apparatus was officially pushed into service for the first time Friday.
Dozens of firefighters, community members and city officials gathered at the downtown Greenwood fire station for the push-in ceremony for the department’s newest ladder truck — a unique Seagrave tractor-drawn aerial that is the only one of its kind in Johnson County. Push-in ceremonies are a cherished tradition in the fire service, symbolizing the official placement of the new apparatus into service.
The term itself originates from the early days of firefighting when fire departments used horse-drawn apparatus. After responding to a fire or call, firefighters would physically 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 can do today with engine-powered apparatus. This time-honored tradition continues as a way to honor the commitment to service and readiness, fire officials said.
The new truck was reason to celebrate.
Also called a Tiller truck, its features include a Seagrave’s Marauder cab and a 100-foot ladder, and it is 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, fire officials said.
“The increase in compartment space allows us to put all the rescue equipment on this one piece of apparatus, allowing it to be available all the time,” said Capt. Todd Brooks, a 32-year department veteran who’s spent 14 years on Station 91’s ladder truck. “The compliment of ground ladders allows for additional options for multi-story buildings with no access to all sides.”
But the most unique part of the new apparatus is how it makes it’s way around the city — with two drivers.
One driver sits in the main cab at the front, while the second sits in the rear cab at the back of the trailer. The rear driver, known as the “Tillerman,” is responsible for steering the trailer axle. To turn, the Tillerman will have to go the opposite direction of the front driver.
The unique configuration allows the truck to navigate through tighter corners than traditional ladder trucks, improving responses times and getting firefighters into areas they previously couldn’t, department officials said.
“It really is an efficient piece of equipment that’s able to do multiple missions,” said Jayme Washel, fire chief. “So it can do extrication for vehicle and heavy equipment, such as semis, car extrication, things like that. We have a lot of extrication equipment on it that’s very specialized, but also this truck would respond to structure fires.”
“It makes us highly effective in this community, and it’s a tremendous resource. I’m elated about the whole thing,” he added.
The Tiller will be particularly effective in areas with smaller and narrower streets, such as Old Town. It will even make going through roundabouts and cul-de-sacs easier, Washel said.
“It makes it very efficient going around, whereas the ladder truck that we have right now, in a cul-de-sac, would have to do a three point turn,” he said. “This literally can turn around in one turn in that cul-de-sac.”
Ahead of putting it into service, firefighters spent about 100 hours training to use the truck and its equipment, Washel said.
“I think that not only citizens of Greenwood, but the citizens of Johnson County, and the visitors to Johnson County and the greater Greenwood area, are really going to be impacted by its effectiveness,” he said.
The new truck cost about $1.8 million, and its construction and delivery was behind 19 months, said Mayor Mark Myers. He’s excited to see the truck finally put into service.
“It’ll be more accessible, and the fire scenes will be easier to get to. It’s just a great piece of equipment for the firefighters,” Myers said.
Myers said the city wants to continue to provide the fire department with the best equipment they can. The Tiller truck is an example of this, he said.
“It’s here to save lives, and that’s exactly what they’ll do with it,” Myers said.
Washel has been elated by the amount of support the department has received for the community, not only for the new truck, but for the new equipment and the upcoming construction of Station 95 on the city’s southeast side. In addition to the new Tiller, a couple new fire engines are planned to arrive next year as well, along with a training center, he said.
He encourages the community to come to Station 91 and check out the new truck, he said.
