PAXTON, Fla — Walton County Fire Rescue will celebrate the addition of two new apparatuses to its fleet of emergency vehicles this week.

At 9:00 a.m. on Friday, July 31, 2020, Walton County Fire Rescue will introduce two new four-wheel-drive ambulances with a traditional wet-down and push-in ceremony. During the event, fire rescue personnel will hose down and push the two new vehicles into Station 1, located at 113 Webster Lane in Paxton.

The public is invited to attend this outdoor event, however, we encourage everyone in attendance to practice social distancing. For those who would like to watch the ceremony virtually, Walton County Fire Rescue will be recording the push-in ceremony live on Facebook and Instagram.

One of the ambulances will be placed into service at Station 1 in Paxton, and the second apparatus will be housed at the WCFR EMS station in Mossy Head.

“Protecting the homes, businesses, and citizens of Walton County is our top priority,” says Fire Chief Russell Beaty. “That’s why it is vital that our first responders are provided with the best equipment and training. The citizens of Paxton and Mossy Head can be proud that these resources will be serving them for many years to come.”

Wet-down and push-in ceremonies at fire stations date back to the 1800s when hand-drawn hose carts and horse-drawn steam engines required a hands-on approach to push the apparatus back into the firehouse when returning from a call.

Walton County Fire Rescue is committed to providing the utmost care to the residents of Walton County by continually investing in life-saving training and equipment.