Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District welcomes new engine, ambulance with community christening

SISTERS, Ore. (KTVZ) -- The Sisters-Camp Sherman Fire District added a new fire engine and ambulance to its response fleet today. Community members were invited to attend a christening ceremony for the two new emergency vehicles.

The event served as an expression of gratitude for emergency service funding. Celebrations began with a traditional wetting ceremony in which an older engine sprayed the new fire truck, followed by a public push-in where attendees helped push both vehicles into their station bays.

The fire engine cost approximately $900,000 to replace, while the ambulance cost under $370,000 once fully outfitted with equipment. The fire chief of the Sisters-Camp Sherman Rural Fire Protection District highlighted the role of local taxpayers in securing the new equipment.

“The community has paid for these,” the fire chief said. “When you look at an engine that's about $900,000 to replace and by the time the ambulance is outfitted with equipment, that's about $370,000. It really means a lot for us to invite the public to come in and dedicate this as we push them in. It's their tax dollars that it purchases that allow us to keep providing emergency response.”

The new fire unit bears two dedicated memorials honoring fallen emergency responders. The vehicle remembers firefighters who died in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, as well as wildland firefighters who lost their lives defending homes.

With the arrival of the new vehicles, the department is adjusting its fleet operations. The district is retiring an old fire engine and converting one of its older ambulances into a dedicated wildfire incident response unit.