LFD celebrates new apparatus; christens new rig

Mayor Steve Collier and Fire Chief Dino Batalis welcomed a group of 50 to Station 39 on Richardt Street to provide the opening comments for a ceremony commemorating a new rig for Station 39 January 25. City Clerk Kathy Walton and Common Council members Rick Wells and Bob Jones joined the festivities, as well as pastors from local churches and members of the public safety community.

Batalis was quick to thank the city for the new equipment and to acknowledge the important support from "our brothers in blue, from LPD, who are here to mark this occasion with us." Batalis went on to explain the tradition of retiring former equipment and bringing in the new by sprinkling water from the retired truck onto the new one and then pushing the truck into the firehouse for its next use. He explained the tradition stems from the days when horses pulled the fire wagons and the wagons were backed into station houses. Firefighters from Station 39 christened the new rig with water and then ceremoniously pushed it into its stall.

At 1:12 p.m., Batalis announced its placement and it's ready for a call. The crowd cheered after the ceremony which featured several TV crews among the Lawrence dignitaries, LFD staff, and LPD command staff who attended the ceremony. Batalis explained that old trucks are usually retired within four to five years service. This truck began to serve the Lawrence community in 2004 and will be an important asset to protecting life and property in this community, Batalis said.