Tacoma Local 31 Welcomes New Engine 10

April 5, 2010 – After 14 years of dedicated service, Tacoma, WA Local 31 fire fighters said goodbye to their old Engine 10 and bestowed the title of Engine 10 on a brand new apparatus.

Local 31 fire fighters, City officials and neighborhood residents came out to the single engine firehouse to see the new engine, a Darley Custom Pumper on a Spartan Gladiator Chassis.

At the ceremony, several local dignitaries were on hand to provide specific details on the pumper, which is expected to help improve public safety in its response area. The engine includes state-of-the-art safety features, is compliant with EPA emission and fuel conservation standards and has improved electronic pump and valve controls for regulating the water supply and increasing its dependability and efficiency.

After the speeches, fire fighters held the “wetting of the wheels” ceremony, which included pushing the engine in and out of the firehouse twice – once for the fire fighters and once for the community.

The “wetting of the wheels” is a tradition set back in the days of horse-drawn fire engines. Back then, wheels could actually get too dry and crack, so it was necessary to keep them wet.