(5/8) On Tuesday, May 7 a Dedication Ceremony for Vigilant Hose Company’s (VHC) new "Engine 61" took place at the company’s fire station. All were welcome to attend.

This dedication marked the 30th anniversary of the dedication of the engine that was recently donated to the Pine Mountain (Arkansas) Volunteer Fire Company, at the end of March. Engine 61 was dedicated to all past VHC Chiefs and the Community that they serve. This date was selected because it was May 7, 1989 (exactly 30 years ago) that the unit this engine replaces, old Engine 63, was placed into service. While old Engine 63 had proven itself many times over, both age and active use had taken their toll.

A highlight of the evening consisted of a traditional "Housing of the new Engine" which included VHC Members and special guests 'pushing' the Engine into quarters from the front ramp. This time-honored bit of pageantry actually dates back to the era of hand-drawn, and later horse-drawn, firefighting equipment and celebrates service to the community. The new engine was also christened with water from the old engine; another time-honored tradition in fire companies.

It took more than six months of detailed design, construction, testing and acceptance testing in Appleton, Wisconsin before Engine 61 was complete. Early preparations involved eighteen months worth of detailed study through online research and site visits. Many years of fundraising partnered with smart investments and wise money management made the new upgrade possible.

Engine 61 has a range of critically important safety and operational capabilities necessary to serve the diversity and complexity of the VHC’s response area. The new engine has a Pierce ‘Enforcer’ style cab (for six seat-belted personnel), a stainless-steel body, a 1,000-gallon water tank, a 1,500 gallon per minute pump, and can supply both Class A and Class B Foam. Final mounting of small equipment, breathing apparatus, radios, maps and onboard reference materials, plus marking of all tools, was accomplished by VHC’s Small Equipment Committee. Committee members were intimately involved in every aspect of researching and specifying new appliances and equipment incorporated in Engine 61’s inventory of fire, rescue and emergency medical tools and supplies.

Only about 1% of VHC’s 100-square mile response district has water mains and fire hydrants. Many buildings both in town and in the outlying areas are well over a century old. Multi-story structures, the range of weather conditions and the mix of residential, commercial, agricultural and institutional occupancies in this area, combined with roadway and farm emergencies, require modern equipment be on hand and at the ready 24 hours a day, seen days a week, 365 days per year.

The fully outfitted unit will have cost the VHC nearly three-quarters of a million dollars. Credit goes to VHC’s hard-working volunteers who made this dream a reality. VHC Auxiliary members played a key role in raising monies needed to assure firefighters have the proper equipment, apparatus and support items necessary to meet community needs. VHC’s weekly bingo supporters also deserve special thanks for all they do to bring in needed funds that help with operational expenses including a new ambulance this past May and now this new engine.

The entire greater Emmitsburg community is welcome to stop in to see the new Engine 61 plus also be on the lookout for it heading to and from emergency calls, community service runs and training details.