El Paso Fire Department adds new truck, ambulance to fleet

EL PASO, Texas - The El Paso Fire Department has two brand new tools to fight fires and save lives in the Borderland.

"The importance of this is the safety of the public," said Fire Chief Mario D'Agostino.

The department added two new units - Quint 28 and Rescue 28 - to the fleet.

On Saturday, the department held a “wetdown” ceremony to officially welcome the new fire truck and ambulance.

In a "wetdown" ceremony, the community sprays the units, hand dries them and pushes them into the station. The tradition dates back to the 1800s, when the department relied on horses to pull fire trucks.

D'Agostino told ABC-7 that the city of El Paso has committed to making sure the public has "the safest apparatus possible."