PHOTOS: The fire department here is newly prepared for potential airplane emergencies.
Firefighters and city officials unveiled a new fire truck on Tuesday that will be used to respond to any emergencies at the McAllen International Airport.
The fire department celebrated the acquirement of the E-ONE apparatus during a traditional “push-back” ceremony at the McAllen fire substation #4.
“It’s a tradition for the fire department going back to the 1800s in which the fire engines at the time were pulled by horses,” said Interim Fire Chief Juan Gloria. “With that in mind, whenever a new apparatus arrived to a fire house, the firefighters themselves would bring the truck to the front of the fire station — they would clean it, they would wash it and, by hand, they would push it back inside the quarters to put it in service and that is what we’re going to replicate today.”
The new truck is equipped with a 1,500 gallon on-board water tank and a high extendable reach turret, or H.E.R.T., piercing tip.