The Clermont Fire Department and the Special Operations Team held a Push-In Ceremony for their newest apparatus, a $748,297 Pierce Ultimate Configuration Heavy Duty Rescue on Monday, April 23.
The Push-In Ceremony is a tradition. The origin of pushing a fire truck into the station dates back to the time of horse-drawn engines when firefighters had to push the fire pumpers into the station because of the struggle horses had backing up equipment.
The new Heavy Rescue 1 will focus on heavy rescue operations with an emphasis on special operations and extrication. The Special Operations Team provides skills and experience to handle various types of incidents including hazardous materials response, confined space rescue, technical rope rescue, trench rescue, structural building collapse, and other specialized rescue incidents. The Heavy Rescue is a tandem axle that has an engine response function with a pump size of 1500 GPM and water tank capacity of 500 gallons as well.
The apparatus was approved by council on March 22, 2016, to purchase from the Florida Sheriffs Association contract. It replaces the department’s 1995 Spartan Heavy Rescue.
The Heavy Rescue will be housed at Fire Station No. 2, Hartwood Marsh Road, Clermont.
