NORTH COUNTY — Clark-Cowlitz Fire Rescue performed a traditional push-in ceremony for its new ambulance Wednesday at the Ridgefield Fire Station.
This is the first of two ambulances given to Clark-Cowlitz Fire Rescue by the Cowlitz Indian Tribe Foundation. The total amount of the gift for two brand new fully equipped ambulances is nearly $950,000. The unit will initially respond as Rescue 21 and respond to emergency medical and fire calls within the Clark-Cowlitz Fire Rescue response area, which encompasses La Center, Ridgefield and Woodland. Beginning in January 2025 as part of the new regional ambulance contract, Rescue-21 will become Medic-21 and transport patients.
“These new response units will help Clark-Cowlitz Fire Rescue provide a higher level of emergency response to our residents and visitors” Fire Chief John Nohr said.
The push-in ceremony is a fire service tradition that dates back to the late 1800s when fire departments used hand-drawn pumpers and horse-drawn equipment. Upon returning to the station after a fire call, the horses could not easily back the equipment into the station, so they were disconnected from the fire equipment and firefighters would push the equipment back into the bay themselves.
