Water splashes onto the new Engine 7 during the ceremonial push-in event. (Katecey Harrell/ Tyler Morning Telegraph)

Tyler Fire Department this week celebrated two new vehicles, Engine 2 and Engine 7, with push-in celebrations.

“Anytime we are able to have something that represents our commitment to public safety is an important time. This is one of our most strategic priorities,” City Manager Edward Broussard said. “Police and fire are something that we take very seriously.”

City officials, firefighters and their families gathered Tuesday to witness the symbolic push-in, first for Engine 2 at Station 2, located at 5505 Old Bullard Rd., then again for Engine 7 at Station 7, located at 344 Troup Hwy.

Before modern fire engines, firefighters used horse-drawn carriages to transport water. After fighting a fire, they would care for their tired horses by cooling them down with water and then manually pushing the carriage back into the firehouse. Today, the ceremony honors that tradition by throwing water on the fire truck and physically pushing it into the station.

“It is symbolic of the old horse and buggy days,” Fire Chief David Coble said.

Engine 7 was fully paid for and ordered in 2022 but was only delivered about three weeks ago due to delays in manufacturing. Although the usual service lifespan is around 12 years, it replaces a 16-year-old truck.

The fire truck is a custom-built pumper designed specifically for the City of Tyler. A committee of nine members determines the truck’s specifications, ensuring it meets the city’s needs before it is manufactured. The fire truck cost about $890,000.

“It’s a beautiful thing for them to have something that does not break down as often and not cost us a lot of money in maintenance costs,” Coble said.

The new fire vehicles allow 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.

Tyler Fire Department is 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 leads to a reduction in insurance premiums for both residents and businesses within the city.

“Our fleet was in pretty dire straits a few years ago, but the city council has been great in approving our truck replacement program,” Coble said. “We’re making good headway in catching up to where we should be.”

Two more fire trucks, ordered in October 2024, are estimated to arrive in 38 months.