Photos: Push-In Ceremony for Arizona's First Electric Fire Pumper

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The Gilbert, Arizona, Fire and Rescue Department is going green. The department celebrated the delivery of its Pierce Manufacturing Volterra electric pumper with a push-in ceremony on Oct. 27, after securing a contract for it a year ago.

This represents Pierce Manufacturing's third Volterra electric pumper placement. The city of Madison, Wisconsin, has been running a pre-production model of the Volterra for over two years, with Pierce Manufacturing using department feedback to improve the production model. The department also ordered a production model as soon as it became available.

Portland Fire and Rescue in Oregon has also been testing a pre-production model of the Pierce Volterra electric pumper.

Since each location has different climates, Pierce can collect vehicle performance data for the truck in various environmental conditions, Government Fleetreported in Oct. 2022.

The electric-powered engine is meant to support 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. Historically, horse-drawn fire engines were not easily backed into fire stations with horses alone. After a call, firefighters would have to disconnect the fire equipment from the horses and push the fire apparatus back into the bays.

To pay homage to the history of the fire service, when a new fire engine is purchased, fire departments will often ceremonially push the new truck into the bay and mark the official start of the engine’s service to the community.

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Pierce designed the Volterra EV apparatus to operate the same as its internal combustion engine trucks, so firefighters who are already used to driving a Pierce truck will not have a learning curve.
Photo: Pierce Manufacturing

The Gilbert Fire Department just received its Volterra electric pumper. The process to create the vehicle began several years ago, when Pierce Manufacturing reached out to the Madison, Wisconsin, Fire Department and fleet to work with them on creating the vehicle.
Photo: Pierce Manufacturing

The Volterra has about 245 kilowatt-hours of energy.
Photo: Pierce Manufacturing

In most scenarios, the Volterra can regain full charge in one hour. Depending on the state of charge, normal charging times are often quite less.
Photo: Pierce Manufacturing

The truck has a diesel backup both for the engine and for the pumper. The backup will help ensure the pumper never fails while out on a call.
Photo: Pierce Manufacturing

GIlbert Fire Chief Rob Duggan speaks at the department's push-in ceremony for the new Volterra electric fire pumper.
Photo: Pierce Manufacturing

Another tradition includes hosing down a new fire truck for its traditional first washing before it goes into service.
Photo: Pierce Manufacturing

As a way of paying homage to the history of the fire service, fire departments often ceremonially push new trucks into their bay at a fire department to mark the official start of the engine’s service to the community.
Photo: Pierce Manufacturing

The Gilbert Fire Department serves a population of more than 273,000 people.
Photo: Pierce Manufacturing