Home News Local News Photos: Greenport FD commissions new pumper truck with ritual wet-down

Photos: Greenport FD commissions new pumper truck with ritual wet-down

[four_fifth]Greenport Fire Department commissioned its newest engine yesterday with a traditional wet-down ritual at fire department headquarters.

With the ceremonies, attended by crews from area fire departments, local dignitaries and village residents, the Star Hose Company placed its new pumper truck 833 in service.

The custom-built 2015 Pierce pumper truck was purchased for $547,300 from Firematic Supply Company of Shirley with cash saved over the past nine years, Mayor George Hubbard Jr. said.

The new truck replaces a 1986 pumper, Star Hose Capt. Beattie Hays said.

“It’s a good truck, a rig we didn’t put a lot of unnecessary bells and whistles on,” Hays said.

It can pump 1500 gallons per minute and carries its own 750-gallon tank. The cab seats five firefighters in addition to the driver and officer.

Hays’ fiancee Megan Hamilton christened the new apparatus with a bottle of champagne and then the wet-down got underway.

Pumpers from Southold, Cutchogue, East Marion and Shelter Island circled the firehouse, arriving with sirens blaring and lights flashing, drawing curious residents of Third Street and the surrounding blocks outside to watch the goings-on. Firefighters hooked up their hoses and Greenport’s pumper 834, positioned behind the firehouse shot a long arc of water high into the air, which came over the station and splashed on the new truck parked in front. The other crews opened their hoses and the fun began.

A wet-down is a longstanding fire service ritual, dating back to the 1800s, when pumpers were pulled by horses. At a traditional commissioning ceremony, local clergymen blessed the new horse with holy water and prayers for speed, strength, good health and a long life.

SoutholdLOCAL photos by Denise Civiletti

Editor’s note: The original version of this article failed to mention East Marion Fire Department participated in the ceremony. 

 

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Denise Civiletti
Denise is a veteran local reporter and editor, an attorney and former Riverhead Town councilwoman. Her work has been recognized with numerous awards, including a “writer of the year” award from the N.Y. Press Association in 2015. She is a founder, owner and co-publisher of this website.