Attendees had the opportunity to get an up-close view of the revolutionary electric fire apparatus, learn about its technology elements, and help celebrate the beginning of a new era of fire service in Gilbert.
The Pierce Volterra electric pumper was introduced in 2021 as the first of its kind in service in North America.
The engine supports firefighter health and welfare with the reduction of diesel exhaust exposure and a quieter operation.
A push-in ceremony is a fire service tradition that dates back to the 1800s. Fire engines were not easily backed into fire stations with horses alone, so after a call, firefighters would have to disconnect the fire equipment from the horses and push the fire apparatus back into the bays.
Continuing the tradition, when a new fire engine is purchased, fire departments will often hold an event to ceremonially push the new truck into the bay and mark the official start of the engine’s service to the community.
Gilbert Fire & Rescue’s Volterra electric pumper is the third placement for Pierce, with others including the City of Madison, WI, Fire Department, and the City of Portland, OR, Fire and Rescue. All locations represent vastly different climates, allowing Pierce to collect vehicle performance data for the Volterra electric fire truck in various environmental conditions.
About Gilbert Fire & Rescue:
The Gilbert Fire & Rescue Department is led by Chief Rob Duggan and is made up of 11 fire stations and 277 members who are dedicated to finding and utilizing resources to improve service delivery to the community’s 275,000 residents.
In 2019, Gilbert launched an initiative to become the “City of the Future”. Exploring options for fleet electrification is an integral part of moving that vision forward and making Gilbert a more sustainable community for future decades.
The new Volterra electric pumper will operate out of Gilbert Fire Station No. 2, the town’s busiest fire station.
