Residents and visitors in the Ocean City-Wright Fire Control District will have access to expanded rescue and fire suppression capabilities after the district officially placed its new Truck 3 into service Saturday.
- The apparatus, a Sutphen SL75, replaces a standard fire engine previously assigned to the station. It carries a 75-foot aerial ladder and an elevated master stream capable of delivering thousands of gallons of water, according to the district.
The district celebrated the milestone with a traditional fire service push-in ceremony, in which firefighters manually push a new apparatus into the station bay.
In addition to frontline fire response, Truck 3 is designed for technical rescues, commercial structure fires, ventilation operations, elevated patient access, and other complex emergencies that exceed the capabilities of a traditional engine company.
“This apparatus represents a significant investment in the safety of our community,” Fire Chief Jeff Wagner said. “Transitioning from an engine company to an aerial apparatus increases our operational capabilities, allowing our firefighters to perform rescues more effectively, access elevated areas more safely, and deliver enhanced fire suppression capabilities when our community needs them most.”
Pastor Dr. Andrew Bosak of Cinco Baptist Church gave the invocation and offered a blessing over the truck and the firefighters assigned to it.
OCWFCD Commissioners Ken Coulter, Capt. John Johnston, and Ed Tras attended the ceremony, along with Shalimar Mayor Mark Franks, Mary Esther City Councilman Bernie Oder, and state Rep. Patt Maney.
The district thanked its firefighters, staff, families, and the community members who contributed to the project and the ceremony.
