(5/27) The Vigilant Hose Company announced a dedication ceremony scheduled for June 3 which will welcome the new aerial truck that is replacing the original tower apparatus, according to a press release from the department.

Members of the public are invited to join with personnel and their families for

a time-honored fire service tradition of a ‘push-in’ event, according to the fire department. The tradition will consist of ‘pushing’ the new vehicle into the station house at 25 W. Main St.

The new apparatus features ground ladders, a rescue basket, and tools which assists firefighters for a variety of tasks for emergency calls, according to documents released by Wayne Powell, the historian at the firehouse.

Josh Brotherton, chief of the hose company, said the new aerial truck operates better and there is more ladder storage.

"Nowadays houses are getting larger–they are going up instead of outward," Brotherton said. "So the additional ladder complement is beneficial."

The new truck will continue to serve surrounding jurisdictions outside of Frederick county also known as mutual aid calls.

Brotherton, who assumes operational lead for all emergency response activity at Vigilant, said Emmitsburg covers two states and runs first due in five different counties. The truck will continue to cover about 120-square-miles in Frederick county. Other first due areas for the truck include Blue Ridge Summit, Taneytown and Gettysburg, according to Brotherton.

According to the fire company, the new truck features a unique graphic of a ‘Pull-Tab’ with a serial number that represents the purchase price of the apparatus and a bingo card. Members of the company said the ‘six of hearts’ graphic on the truck symbolizes the fund raisers supported by the community that made it possible for the station to purchase the truck "outright upon delivery."

Frank Davis, the former chief of Vigilant and now mayor of Emmitsburg, said there was a lot of uncertainty with– not only the members–but the community when the original tower was placed in service in 1995.

Brotherton said one compartment on the new tower is dedicated to rescue equipment when the rescue squad is out of service.

"We are also planning for the future," the chief said. "Everybody knows that apparatus costs are rising so we look for the longevity of it."

But with this new aerial truck, Davis said there is a lot of excitement and buzz throughout the town.

"It’s amazing the support we are getting from the community and the interest when it's going in service and everybody is just so excited," Davis said. "That’s the neat thing about Emmitsburg."

The dedication ceremony for the new apparatus is scheduled June 3 at 6 p.m.

According to members of the station, photos of the new truck can be viewed on the website at www.vhc6.com.