ESD 4 welcomes new trucks with time-honored ‘push’ tradition

Bexar County Emergency Service District No. 4 welcomed two new fire engines to their ranks. To celebrate their new equipment, BESD 4 hosted a “push-in” ceremony Monday, where firefighters and their families came together to push the new engines into their new homes.

According to BESD 4 officials, the tradition of pushing in new fire engines originated from the horse-drawn fire engines era.

When engines would return from their use, the firefighters would detach the horses and push the engines back into the station. Eventually, the push-in became a time-honored tradition to welcome new engines into service.

Engines 132 and 134 came custom-built for the needs of BESD 4 — just in time to retire the two older engines at the station.

“Those engines were built back in 2006,” said Capt. Michael Schmitz, who brought his family out to celebrate the new engines. “We’ve been maintaining them, but it was time to replace them.”

Schmitz worked to ensure the engines had the proper engine size and pump capacity, along with other design details.

“Everything from the size of the cabinets to the lighting,” Schmitz said, “are custom built, specific for our needs at this station.”

The purchase for the two firetrucks became possible after three years of saving tax revenues. But even when the funds were available, it took some time to receive the finished products.

“From order to delivery, it took 30 months,” Administrator Charles Laljer said. “We bought one outright and the second we have on a 10-year loan. Each engine cost between $900,00$950,000 each.”

In addition to the two new fire engines, BESD 4 made an order for a ladder truck, but it will be sometime before they receive it.

“We’re expecting that around February 2028,” Laljer said. “That’s just part of the challenge of ordering new equipment.”

Regardless, the fire station is grateful for the two new engines that allow them to continue to serve in Bexar County and the Fair Oaks Ranch area.