Cookeville Fire Department dedicated its new fire apparatus Wednesday evening in a more traditional way.
The department and community came together for a dedication inspired by the days of horse-drawn fire engines. Interim Chief Benton Young said that the first step is to wash the engine.
“And that goes back to the horse,” Young said. “When a new horse came into the station, they would give it a bath before they would welcome it to pull the engine. So we’re going to do that first, and then we’re going to wash the wheels and that goes back to the wooden spokes. They would wash the wooden spokes on the wheels after every call.”
Young said that the some $2 million apparatus gives the department use of new, cutting edge technology. He said they gained a new, 107-foot ladder and a new state-of-the-art engine.