PRESS RELEASE
Gilbert Fire & Rescue and Pierce Manufacturing welcomed the department’s new Pierce Volterra electric pumper into service with a local media open house and traditional push-in ceremony on Friday, October 27 at Gilbert Fire Station No. 2.
Attendees got the opportunity to get an up-close view of the revolutionary electric fire apparatus, learn about its technology elements, and help celebrate the beginning of a new era of fire service in Gilbert.
The Pierce Volterra electric pumper was introduced in 2021 as the first of its kind in service in North America.
The pumper supports firefighter health and welfare with the reduction of diesel exhaust exposure and a quieter operation.
A push-in ceremony is a fire service tradition that dates back to the 1800s. Fire engines were not easily backed into fire stations with horses alone, so after a call, firefighters would have to disconnect the fire equipment from the horses and push the fire apparatus back into the bays.
Continuing the tradition, when a new fire engine is purchased, fire departments will often hold an event to ceremonially push the new truck into the bay and mark the official start of the engine’s service to the community.
Gilbert Fire & Rescue’s Volterra electric pumper will be the third placement for Pierce, with others including the city of Madison, Wisconsin Fire Department, and the city of Portland, Oregon Fire and Rescue. All locations represent vastly different climates, allowing Pierce to collect vehicle performance data for the Volterra electric fire truck in various environmental conditions.
Schedule of Events:
Date: Friday, October 27
Media Event: 3 p.m. MST
Push-In Ceremony: 4 p.m. MST
Location: Gilbert Fire Station No. 2, 2855 E Guadalupe Road, Gilbert, Arizona 85234
