Fire Engine Pushed Into Place At Palm Springs Station

PALM SPRINGS, CA — Members of the Palm Springs Fire Department and city officials celebrated a new fire engine via a centuries-old tradition Thursday.

Participating attendees, including Fire Chief Paul Alvarado, Mayor Naomi Soto, City Manager Scott Stiles and council members Ron deHarte and David Ready, held a "push-in" ceremony at Fire Station #1, located at 277 N. Indian Canyon Drive, where they physically pushed the fire engine into the bay.

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The tradition dates back to the 1800s, when firefighters would "unhitch the horses upon returning to the station and manually push the equipment back into the bay, as horses could not easily back the apparatus into place," city officials said.

"This new engine represents our ongoing commitment to public safety, preparedness and providing the highest level of emergency response for our residents and visitors," officials said in a social media post Thursday.

Alvarado highlighted the importance of a new engine to the community.

"As we welcome this life-saving piece of equipment, it is going to serve our community for years to come," he said.