On the morning of December 16th, officials blessed a new fire engine that will be going into service for the New Lenox Fire Protection District (NLFPD).

Fire Chief Adam Riegel, Deputy Chief Dan Turner, Chaplain Bill Ciston and members of the NLFPD took part in the blessing of the new engine on Monday morning. It is part of a fire service tradition that dates to the days of horse-drawn engines. The new apparatus is blessed, then welcomed by pushing it into its new quarters at the fire station.

According to Chief Riegel, “The push-in ritual can be traced back to the late 1800’s when it was a challenge to get horses to push equipment backwards. As a result, firefighters moved the equipment into storage areas by hand.”

The new fire engine is a 2019 Pierce Saber with a 1500 gallon per minute Waterous pump and 750-gallon water tank. It is an Advanced Life Support (ALS) equipped engine, which gives it the same capabilities as an ambulance apart from transport. It replaced a 2003 Pierce Dash, that was purchased from a neighboring community as a gap filler until we could purchase a new engine.

The district also recently purchased a new ambulance is a 2019 Ford F550 built by Lifeline. It is the fourth Lifeline for the district; third Ford chassis with 4x4. The four-wheel drive gives the fire district the capability to respond within our response benchmarks in all types of weather. It has the newest 12 lead monitor with latest, state-of-the-art features and auto lift cot system. It is replacing a 2010 ambulance.

“We are very thankful to our community,” said Deputy Chief Turner. “Thanks to our residents approving our referendum, we were able to purchase two new vehicles for just under $800,000. The new engine and ambulance will provide more reliability to our fleet and less maintenance costs for the district.”

The primary mission of the New Lenox Fire and Ambulance Protection District is to provide a range of programs designed to protect the lives and property within New Lenox Village and Township from the effects for fires and sudden medical emergencies or exposure to dangerous conditions created by man or nature with professional, compassionate, and quality service.