Lake Stevens Fire Dedication
Posted by James Monroe
on Oct 20, 2015
A couple of weeks ago I, along with other Rotarians, had the privilege of attending a special dedication ceremony at Fire Station 82 on Chapel Hill. The Department has just acquired a brand new fire engine and through a time-honored tradition held a wet down ceremony to dedicate into service. The evening's festivities also included the formal induction of Kevin O'Brien as the new Fire Chief for Lake Stevens Fire and the swearing in of two new firefighters.
Chaplain Mike Baughman opened the evening with an invocation praising the sacrifice of the men and women of the Department, saluting the families of the Department personnel and blessing the new engine. Chairman of the Board of Commissioners, Troy Elmore, then swore in Chief O'Brien. Chief O'Brien has been on the job for a few months already getting to know the firefighters, paramedics and administrative staff that make up the department as well as getting to know the community. He came to us after a 20 plus year career with Auburn Fire/Valley Regional Fire Authority and three years as Chief of Orcas Island Fire Department. The Chief is a member of our Rotary Club and we look forward to getting to know him, his wife Nancy and their three sons better.
The Wetdown Ceremony has its origins in the days when horses pulled the fire apparatus to fire scenes. When the horses came back to the station the horses were unhitched from the apparatus, groomed and put in the barn. The apparatus, meanwhile, was cleaned up and hosed off or 'wetdown.' The equipment was then pushed back into the station.
After our new Engine 82 was wet down, community members, visiting dignitaries and personnel were invited to dry off the engine with commemorative towels that IAFF Union 3235 provided for the occasion. Even the young children got into the act of drying off the shiny bright fire truck. Afterwards, many people helped 'push' the engine into its new stall in the apparatus bay of Station 82.
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Deputy Chief of Operations Larry Huff and Chief Kevin O'Brien drying off Engine 82
Commissioner Paul Gagnon then closed the evening by thanking everyone attending and a reminder to stay safe.