A dispatch from the Halifax County 911 Center announced and welcomed the initiate into the emergency responder fold.
Then Ladder 141 was christened by four area fire departments and the Roanoke Rapids Fire Department’s new truck was officially a new member.
Before the wet down ceremony this evening, citizens, officials and firefighters inspected the new truck, which was delivered last week.
“It’s a privilege,” said Gaston Fire and Rescue Chief Ed Porter Jr., whose department was one of the four asked to wet down the new truck. “It represents unity between our departments.”
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City Councilwoman Suetta Scarbrough was pleased with the truck, which bears hers and the other council member’s names. “I’m absolutely thrilled to death,” she said. “This was long, long overdue.”
Mayor Emery Doughtie was also pleased. “I’m very proud to be a part of this and glad the city got a truck to meet the needs of the fire department.”
The Davie Volunteer Fire Department, along with Rheasville and Weldon, also participated in the wet down ceremony.
Firefighters wipe down the truck.
“We would be happy to house it for them,” Davie Chief David Padgett joked. “It’s a very nice truck. We know they’re very proud and very excited to have it.”
Lieutenant Kenneth Hollowell came up with the idea for the ceremony after having watched several videos of other department’s doing them. “I thought it would be a good way to boost morale at the firehouse and show the citizens we were thinking about them.”
Roanoke Rapids Fire Chief Stacy Coggins welcomed visitors and officials. “This is a process we started two years ago. The committee spent several hours and made several trips.”
Lieutenant Kevin Hawkins dries off the wheels.
The ceremony, he said, is a symbol of brotherhood between departments. “We’re carrying on a tradition that goes a way back.”
With that, the Halifax County 911 Center announced the retirement of Ladder 145 and welcomed Ladder 141 into the fold, wishing it a safe journey.
With the new truck parked on the outside bay, the four volunteer departments, two coming from two opposite directions, sirens blaring stopped, took out hoses and sprayed the new truck down.
The truck before the ceremony.
Current and former Roanoke Rapids firefighters then dried the truck down and ceremonially backed it into the bay.
