The Arkansas City Fire/EMS Department will hold a Push-In Ceremony on Tuesday to celebrate the arrival of its new fire engine, a 2025 Ferrara Custom Cinder T-Engine officially designated as Engine 53.
The event will take place from 10 to 11 a.m. at the fire station, 115 S. D St. The public is invited to attend.
A Push-In Ceremony is a long-standing fire service tradition dating back to the late 1800s, when crews had to manually push horse-drawn wagons back into their bays. Today, the ritual honors both firefighting history and community service.
The city approved the purchase of the new engine in March 2023 to strengthen local emergency response. After two years of planning and construction, Engine 53 has been delivered and fully equipped with modern gear, including self-contained breathing apparatus, communications technology, and other firefighting tools.
The $1 million investment was financed through a 10-year lease-purchase agreement with Union State Bank.
