Ames Fire Department invites the public to a “Push-In Ceremony” to celebrate a recently acquired fire and rescue vehicle. The event will begin at 2 p.m. on Monday, April 18, at Fire Station No. 3, 2400 S. Duff Ave.
The new $1.16 million apparatus, the department’s first tower, features a basket at the end of the aerial device. The basket can hold several firefighters and provides access to high-rise structures for rescues while also allowing for elevated water streams. The vehicle was custom-made for Ames Fire by Pierce Manufacturing in Appleton, Wis., and has been named Tower 1. Tower 1 was a scheduled vehicle replacement that expands firefighting capabilities to the department.
“We continually look for ways to improve our ability to respond quickly to any public safety incident with the most effective equipment,” said Fire Chief Rich Higgins. “We are excited about the additional resources Tower One provides to Ames citizens.”
Push-in ceremonies are a fire service tradition dating back to the late 1800s. Horse-drawn fire equipment, especially pumper trucks, had to be disconnected from the horses and pushed into fire stations by firefighters. Due to limited parking, those attending the Tower One Push-In Ceremony should plan to park along the frontage road in front of the fire station.
The Ames Fire Department is a full-service municipal department comprised of 59 firefighters located at three fire stations. Ames Fire focuses on prevention, suppression, emergency services, and fire safety inspections.