Carla Clark | For The Republic Design inside the addition designed by James Paris his partner the late Nolan Bingham of Paris/Bingham Partnership for the Columbus Fire Department, Central Fire Station 1, 1101 Jackson Street, Columbus, Indiana.
COLUMBUS, Ind. — The Columbus Fire Department will have a ceremony to welcome a new fire engine to Station 5, 100 Goeller Court.
The dedication will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 1, with the ceremony planned at 5:30 p.m. which will last about 30 minutes. An open house at the station is planned through 7 p.m., according to Capt. Mike Wilson, fire department spokesman.
Limited parking will be available at the fire station.
Within the fire service, this event is commonly referred to as a “Wet Down and Push-in” ceremony. This tradition goes back to the era when fire pumpers were powered by hand. Following a fire, the horses would be separated from the pumper cart and both horse and pumper would be washed by the firefighters. The pumper would then be pushed back into the station ready for the next emergency call. In today’s modern era, a recreation of this event signifies placing a new apparatus into service.
The new Engine 5 apparatus is a custom pumper manufactured by E-One, a company that has been manufacturing fire apparatus since 1974. The 2024 Pumper can carry up to four firefighters and will be outfitted with a full complement of firefighting equipment as well as Advanced Life Support medical and trauma equipment. The city of Columbus purchased the engine through an investment of approximately $868,000, Wilson said.
The pumper was custom manufactured for the Columbus Fire Department following specifications brought forth by an internal fire department apparatus committee. The committee, comprised of firefighters, fire officers and fire department administration, dedicated time and research to design a pumper that will fit the needs of the city. The Cummins powered custom E-One pumper has a 1000-gallon portable water supply and can pump 1,500 gallons of water per minute.
The apparatus currently designated as Engine 5, a 2004 American LaFrance Pumper, will be reassigned to the Columbus Fire Department Training Division as the fire department’s first designated training engine and can also be used as a reserve apparatus.
