A large crowd of local supporters gathered around Ucluelet’s fire hall on Tuesday to witness the Ucluelet Volunteer Fire Brigade officially welcome a new fire engine into its life-saving fleet with a traditional Wet Down Ceremony.
Deputy Chief Mark Fortune explained wet down ceremonies date back to the late-1800’s, when horse-drawn fire pumpers were used.
“When these pumpers arrived at the fire hall, the horses were unhitched from the apparatus and the pumper was then washed and dried and pushed into the bay recognizing it as in service,” he said.
Members of Tofino’s Volunteer Fire Department arrived to assist with the ceremony, which consisted of both sides of the new truck being hosed down, hand-dried and pushed into the fire hall by the brigade.
The new truck replaced the brigade’s now-former Number 2 Engine, which, Fortune said, had served the community with distinction since 1991.
“It’s served the community well to this point and we may even have it on reserve status until such time that we can find a new home for it,” he said. “Countless fires, countless rescues; it’s been a fantastic engine.”
The new firefighting apparatus is equipped with a compressed air foam system and can be used to create booms for marine emergencies, according to Fortune who said it was utilized earlier than expected when a fuel truck crashed on Highway 4 last month spilling roughly 3,000 litres of aviation fuel around Kennedy Lake.
“We actually made booms with that truck and were trying to stop the lake from being polluted by the fuel spill,” Fortune said. “So, even though that truck hasn’t been in service, it has already served the community and surrounding area.”
The new firetruck cost roughly $475,000 and its purchase was approved by Ucluelet’s municipal council in October, 2016.
Fortune thanked Mayor Dianne St. Jacques, council and the district’s Emergency and Environmental Services Manager Karla Robison for their support.
“Without your assistance, we couldn’t make this new truck happen for the community,” Fortune said.