Listen to the full meeting
The Fall River Fire Department hosted an in-service ceremony at the Raynham/Eastwood Fire Station on Eastern Avenue to officially commission the new Engine 9 (known traditionally as Pumper 9). Fire Chief Jeffrey Bacon spoke on the 127-year history of Pumper 9 in Fall River’s Flint neighborhood, tracing its lineage back to horse-drawn apparatus operating from Bogle Hill in 1899. Chief Bacon recognized the efforts of the apparatus committee, previous department leadership, Community Development Director Michael Dion, and local and state delegations for securing the new apparatus.
Mayor Paul E. Coogan offered remarks thanking the firefighters for their ongoing dedication to public safety, specifically citing their recent response to contain a fire on Rodman and South Main Street, and praised the citywide teamwork involved in acquiring modern equipment. Former Fire Department Chaplain Father Michael Racine delivered opening prayers and blessed the apparatus with holy water, while also paying tribute to the late Monsignor Thomas Harrington.
Following traditional fire service customs, firefighters conducted a ceremonial wet-down using water transferred from the outgoing 2017 Pumper 9 to the new truck. Firefighters and attendees then conducted a ceremonial push-in of the apparatus into the station bay. Captain Paul Berube officially contacted fire alarm dispatch to place Engine 9 into active service, and the Honor Guard retired the colors to conclude the ceremony.
Topics discussed
- 4:38 · Welcome and Historical Overview of Engine 9
Chief Jeffrey Bacon welcomed attendees and detailed the 127-year history of Pumper 9 in the Flint neighborhood, dating back to horse-drawn pumpers in 1899. - 8:09 · Push-In Ceremony and Placing Engine 9 In Service
Firefighters participated in the traditional push-in into the station bay, and Captain Paul Berube notified dispatch to officially place Engine 9 into service. - 10:15 · Remarks from Mayor Paul E. Coogan
Mayor Paul E. Coogan commended the department for recent firefighting efforts and thanked the state and local officials who supported funding for the new engine. - 11:45 · Blessing and Wet-Down Ceremony
Father Michael Racine offered a blessing and sprayed holy water on the apparatus, followed by the traditional wet-down using water from the 2017 engine.