Forest City Fire Rescue Truck #22 is dedicated

Photo by Pat Nanney

Forest City Fire Rescue dedicated its new Fire Engine, Truck #22 during a ceremony recently at the fire station off Oak Street.

Mayor Steve Holland and Town Manager Janet Mason welcomed a group of supporters, firefighters, visitors and town council to the brief ceremony.

"We've come a long way from that to this," Holland said pointing behind him to the department's first fire engine purchased in 1928 for a whopping $6,500.

Prior to the 1928 engine, fire engines were pulled by horses and men, Holland reminded the group.

The Mayor then pointed to the new 2021 fire truck with a 100 foot ladder making it the largest in Rutherford County.

The purchase of the $1 million fire truck was approved by Town Council several months ago but on May 3 the #22 was officially put into fire service, Fire Chief Ferrell Hamrick said.

Hamrick publicly thanked Town Council for their vote of confidence in buying the fire truck.

"I haven't asked for anything I didn't think we needed," he said. "Town Council has always supported us."

"This is State of the Art" Hamrick said. "So was the 1928 truck" in its time.

The new fire truck decreases fire insurance premiums for Forest City residents and for the town.

"This saves money for a lot of people," Hamrick said.

Hamrick introduced several new safety features on the new truck into the last eight feet of the ladder that has been turned on an angle.

Full-time and part-time firefighters have been training on the new truck for several months, Hamrick said. Training will be ongoing.

The truck that has been used primarily prior to Monday night was purchased 31 years ago and was the county's first ladder truck.

"It's an evolution. A new truck replaces the old," he said.

The 31-year-old truck is still in service as are the department's other trucks and engines.

Former retiring Captain Greg Tate was among those attending and said a prayer over the truck. He thanked God for the blessings on the department and "for keeping us safe."

Rutherfordton Mayor Jimmy Dancy, members of the Rutherfordton Fire Rescue, Rutherford County Fire Marshall office staff and others were also introduced by Mason.

After the brief ceremony, the 100-foot ladder hoisted into the air for everyone to view.

As is tradition, firefighters then pushed the new truck back into the bay.

When there were no automated fire engines decades ago, firefighters had to push the fire truck back into the bay, much like Monday night.