Fire Chief David Coble told guests the history of Engine 5, at the push-in ceremony Dec. 19 at Station 5.

Three-year-old firefighting enthusiast Roen Hoar toted his toy fire truck as City of Tyler officials pushed a bright, shiny fire engine into Station 5. “Fire trucks, airplanes, and helicopters, that’s what he’s about,” Roen’s father Seth said. “We saw on the event page that there was a Tyler fire truck push-in, so of course we had to see that.” The City of Tyler Fire Department welcomed two new vehicles, Engine 9 and Engine 5, with push-in celebrations on Tuesday. Mayor Don Warren said a push-in is a tradition recognized in the fire service that reflects the horse-drawn carriage days when firefighters had to wash their trucks and push them into the station. “This tradition has gone on forever. We want to keep the tradition alive here in Tyler, but it’s not just a tradition here in Tyler, but it’s all around America,” Warren said. “I’m honored to be a part of this ceremony. It’s always fun and exciting.” According to City of Tyler, adding the two new fire vehicles allows the Fire Department to maintain its Class 1 rating from the Insurance Services Office (ISO). The ISO ratings assess the readiness of local fire departments by classifying a community’s ability to suppress a fire. It sets Tyler Fire in the top 2% of all rated fire departments in Texas and the top 1% of about 46,000 communities in the U.S. This improved score reduces insurance premiums for residents and businesses within the city. Fire Chief David Coble said 14 years ago, the City of Tyler bought five trucks that have all reached the end of their useful life and should be reserve engines. With the addition of these trucks, only two more need to be replaced. The final two trucks are scheduled for delivery in November 2024. “When a tone goes off, you want a truck to start and get you to where the incident is,” Coble said. “The newer the truck, making sure you have new equipment makes it more reliable.”

Three-year-old firefighting enthusiast Roen Hoar toted his toy fire truck as City of Tyler officials pushed a bright, shiny fire engine into Station 5.

“Fire trucks, airplanes, and helicopters, that’s what he’s about,” Roen’s father Seth said. “We saw on the event page that there was a Tyler fire truck push-in, so of course we had to see that.”

The City of Tyler Fire Department welcomed two new vehicles, Engine 9 and Engine 5, with push-in celebrations on Tuesday.

Mayor Don Warren said a push-in is a tradition recognized in the fire service that reflects the horse-drawn carriage days when firefighters had to wash their trucks and push them into the station.

“This tradition has gone on forever. We want to keep the tradition alive here in Tyler, but it’s not just a tradition here in Tyler, but it’s all around America,” Warren said. “I’m honored to be a part of this ceremony. It’s always fun and exciting.”

According to City of Tyler, adding the two new fire vehicles allows the Fire Department to maintain its Class 1 rating from the Insurance Services Office (ISO).

The ISO ratings assess the readiness of local fire departments by classifying a community’s ability to suppress a fire. It sets Tyler Fire in the top 2% of all rated fire departments in Texas and the top 1% of about 46,000 communities in the U.S. This improved score reduces insurance premiums for residents and businesses within the city.

Fire Chief David Coble said 14 years ago, the City of Tyler bought five trucks that have all reached the end of their useful life and should be reserve engines. With the addition of these trucks, only two more need to be replaced.

The final two trucks are scheduled for delivery in November 2024.

“When a tone goes off, you want a truck to start and get you to where the incident is,” Coble said. “The newer the truck, making sure you have new equipment makes it more reliable.”