PRESS RELEASE - Mayor Keffer Reinvests in Fire Station 37

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 5, 2021

Contact socialmedia@upperdarby.org 

    MAYOR KEFFER REINVESTS IN STATION 37 WITH NEW LADDER FIRE TRUCK    

Upper Darby Township, PA: Fire Chief Derrick Sawyer will welcome Mayor Barbarann Keffer, Councilwoman Danyelle Blackwell, Councilman Brian Burke, Councilman Bob Gwin, and Councilman Hafiz Tunis Jr., along with members of the community, to Station 37, located at 7241 West Chester Pike, on Tuesday, January 5, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. to take part in a long standing tradition in the fire service, the housing of a new fire truck.

Mayor Keffer, Chief Sawyer, and members of Township Council will perform a ceremonial “Housing of the Apparatus”. During this ceremony, a brand new 2020 Seagrave Ladder Truck will be officially assigned to Upper Darby Station 37. This state-of-the-art ladder truck was purchased with capital funds and will replace the 1996 Seagrave ladder truck that is currently in use.

The new truck is part of Mayor Keffer’s efforts to reinvest in and modernize the Township by ensuring that the fire department has the best equipment available in order to better serve the community. 

The origin of the Housing Ceremony dates back to the early 1800’s. The community would get involved along with the firefighters, in a gala event denoting a new start. The firefighters would clean and decorate the fire station. Getting dressed in their finest parade uniforms, they would invite the community to help them celebrate their good fortune. The new fire apparatus would first be pushed by the firefighters who would use and maintain the new apparatus. A second “pushing in” would be conducted by local politicians, dignitaries, clergy, and community members. A third “pushing in” would be conducted by an invited rival fire company, which symbolizes the importance of brotherhood and teamwork in the fire service.

# # #