Warm welcome
Century-old tradition celebrates arrival of new Romulus fire truck
The brand-new firetruck in Romulus was welcomed with a decades old tradition as firefighters and officials helped push the vehicle into the station for the first time.
The new fire truck, fully funded by a $1 million state grant, was helped into the station by Mayor Robert McCraight, State Sen. Darrin Camilleri and State Rep. Reggie Miller, along with firefighters. Miller was instrumental in securing the state funding for the new truck, officials said, and her efforts were acknowledged with a personalized fire helmet presented during the formal ceremony following the “push in.”
The new vehicle will be housed at Fire Station No. 4 in the city. This new engine replaces an older unit to improve response times and public safety in areas often cut off by train traffic, officials explained. Calls at the Romulus Fire Department have doubled in the last decade and the much-needed new truck will reduce response time and potentially reduce city insurance premiums, Miller noted in her budget presentation seeking funding from the state.
The fire truck push-in ceremony is a longstanding tradition, often described as a "ribbon-cutting" for the fire service, where firefighters and community members physically push a new apparatus into the station. The ritual dates back to the late 19th century when, after returning from calls, horses could not back heavy steam engines into the station.
Firefighters back then had to disconnect the horses and, with the help of community members, push the apparatus into the bay. It symbolizes dedication, community partnership, and the activation of the new vehicle, fire historians said. “The ceremony serves to honor the past while celebrating new equipment,” they added.
The vehicle was custom-built to address the specific geographical challenges in Romulus, such as navigating around Detroit Metropolitan Airport and frequently blocked railroad crossings, officials noted. The vehicle is a Pierce Enforcer pumper engine truck. It is equipped with a 750-gallon tank and features a 1,500 gallon per minute waterous pump, according to statistics provided by the manufacturer.
Romulus Fire Station No. 4 is located at 28777 Eureka Road in the city.
