WFD celebrates new truck with wet down

WARWICK — Warwick volunteer firefighters wet down a new fire engine purchased for Engine 3 Company fire station on South Street Extension on Saturday, Oct. 27.

A wet down is an age-old ritual celebrated my many volunteer fire departments in which squads of firefighters from neighboring towns and villages commission a new fire apparatus by christening it with water from the visiting fire company’s equipment.

Fire trucks and crews from surrounding areas joined in the wet down and the open house celebration complete with food, beverages and musical entertainment.

Harry Littell, chairman of the committee formed to purchase the 2013 KME engine, explained that important features of the state-of-the-art new apparatus included its storage of 1000 gallons of water, a 1500 gallon per minute pump and class A and B dual foam system.

The cost of the new fire engine was $556,992, which was funded by taxpayers in the Warwick Fire District.