Portland welcomes electric fire truck from Pierce with push-in ceremony

Portland Fire and Rescue, in a stirring nod to tradition, is heralding in the future on 12 June with an old-world “push-in” ceremony marking the entrance of a groundbreaking Pierce Volterra electric pumper into service. The event, set to start at midday at Station 1, located at 55 SW Ash, Portland, Oregon, will be open to all.

The Pierce Volterra, an electric fire pumper first launched in 2021, is a trailblazer in its own right. As the first of its kind in service in North America, the new truck is set to strengthen Portland’s environmental sustainability initiatives with its innovative green technology.

The ‘Push-In’ Ceremony

The tradition of the ‘push-in’ ceremony dates back to the 1800s when firefighters would disconnect the fire equipment from the horses and manually push the fire apparatus back into the bays. This tradition has survived the times, and even today, when a new fire engine is purchased, fire departments often mark the occasion with a ceremonially push of the new truck into the bay.

Public viewing and live Q&A

In-person attendees will have a unique opportunity to get an up-close view of the electric fire apparatus, explore the cab and its cutting-edge technology, and even ask their burning questions. According to event details, photography and video during the event are welcome. For those who can’t attend, footage of the “push-in” ceremony will be posted after the event.

Public officials and fire chiefs at the forefront

The ceremony will see the participation of an array of public officials and firefighters, including Rick Graves, Public Information Officer for Portland Fire and Rescue; Rene Gonzalez, Portland City Commissioner of Public Safety; Sara Boone, Fire Chief, Portland Fire and Rescue; Bill Goforth, Deputy Chief, Portland Fire and Rescue; and Marc Faluotico, Regional Vice President, Pierce Manufacturing. The session will conclude with a “push-in” conducted by the on-duty crew and a closing address by Rick Graves.