New Fire Engine in Service...

Monday Night we held a ceremony which is known in the fire service as a Wetting Ceremony and a Housing Ceremony.

The Wetting Ceremony is the dedication of the new truck to replace the old. Water is taken from the old truck and poured into the new trucks’ tank to show the continuity of service from one generation to the next.

Many years ago fire apparatus was pulled to the scene of fires by horses. Upon return to the firehouse, the horses could not back the heavy steam engines and hose carts into the building. The apparatus was placed on the apron, the horses unhitched, and the rigs pushed back into the station by hand.

Tonight we honor that tradition to mark the placing into service of the new Engine 621. Lt. Clinton Weaver - who has volunteered more time on placing the new trucks in service than anyone, had the honor of retiring the old 30+ year Pierce Engine, and placing the call to Deschutes County Dispatch with this message;

"Dispatch, Show 621 Pierce, out of service, retired. Show 621 Rosenbauer, available, in service, in quarters."

The beginning of a new era in the history of the Cloverdale Rural Fire Protection District.