Espanola Fire Department And Community Celebrate New Ladder Truck

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The United States flag flies from the ladder of the Espanola Fire Department’s 1998 American Response truck Thursday evening. Ladder 1 has been retired following the purchase of a new truck with a 107-foot ladder. Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com

IMG_3279.jpgEspanola Major Javier Sanchez addresses a large crowd gathered at the Espanola  Main Fire Station Thursday evening for the blessing and push-in ceremony for the department’s new ladder fire truck. Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com

IMG_3292.jpgJohn Wickersham, left, president of the Espanola Firefighters Union IAFF Local 4339, presents a certificate of appreciation to Firefighter and Fleet Manager Pablo Montoya for his working on getting the new fire truck ready to put into service. Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com

IMG_3290Rep. Joseph Sanchez congratulates Espanola Fire Department personnel on their new ladder truck and thanks them for their service. Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com

IMG_3264.jpgSanta Clara Pueblo Fire Chief Mel Tafoya and his wife, Lisa attended the push-in and blessing ceremony for the new Espanola Fire Department ladder truck. Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com

IMG_3288.jpgMore than 100 people were on hand Thursday evening at the Espanola Main Fire Station to celebrate the placing in service of a brand new ladder truck. Photo by Maire O’Neill/loslamosreporter.com

IMG_3297 (1).jpgEspanola Fire Department chaplain Gilbert Armijo reads the traditional blessing for the new ladder truck. Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com

IMG_3298 (2).jpgEspanola Fire Department firefighters draw a bucket of water from the retiring ladder truck to be placed in the new truck as part of the ceremony. Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com

IMG_3302.jpgEspanola firefighters pass a bucket of water between the 1998 ladder truck and the new ladder truck during Thursday evening’s ceremony. Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com

IMG_3304 (1).jpgAn Espanola firefighter pours a bucket of water drawn from the old ladder truck into the new ladder truck. Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com

IMG_3308.jpgJohn Wickersham, center, and other firefighters push the new ladder truck into the Espanola Main Fire Station building Thursday evening during a ceremony attended by some 100 people. Photo by Maire O’Neill/losalamosreporter.com