El Mirage Fire Department celebrates arrival of new engine

City officials and firefighters on Tuesday celebrated the arrival of the El Mirage Fire Department’s new Type 1 fire engine with a traditional “push-in” ceremony.

The new Class A pumper, which carries a $1,096,000 price tag for the vehicle, equipment and modifications, replaces a 2010 Ferrara engine that served the community for 14 years.

During the event, Mayor Alexis Hermosillo emphasized that the upgrade is part of El Mirage’s ongoing investment in local public safety.

“This new fire engine is an investment in the safety, security and well-being of the El Mirage community,” Hermosillo said. “Our new Class A pumper provides our firefighters with the modern equipment they need to serve our city safely and effectively for many years to come.”

The state-of-the-art engine features a 1,000-gallon water tank and has the capability to pump 1,500 gallons of water per minute. It is also packed with updated safety and operational technology aimed at meeting modern emergency demands.

Fire Chief Michael Long thanked the mayor and members of the City Council, noting the new engine is designed to bolster emergency response times while keeping crews safer on the job.

“This vehicle reflects the city’s continued commitment to providing the highest level of emergency services to its citizens, businesses and visitors,” Long said.

Long also highlighted the history behind the push-in ceremony, a tradition that harks back to the days of horse-drawn firefighting equipment.

Before motorized vehicles existed, firefighters had to unhitch the horses and manually push the heavy apparatus back into the station bay after a call. Today, the ceremony serves as a symbolic symbol of the history.

The new engine is slated to enter front-line service as soon as final equipment installation and testing are complete.

Community members can watch a video of the ceremony on the city’s YouTube channel. More details about the department’s operations can be found online.

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