ANGOLA, IN - The Angola Fire Department launched and blessed its new fire.

The ceremony revived an old American tradition, dating to the 19th century, when fire crews had engines pulled by horses. The horse could bring the engines back to the fire station, but they could not back them into the bays. Before finishing their shift, crews would clean the apparatus and push it back into the station.

The tradition of christening a new piece of equipment by washing it and manually pushing it into the station was performed by the Angola Fire Department this week.

Angola’s newest apparatus reportedly carries 1,800 gallons of water.

The new fire truck will be especially helpful for rural areas around the lakes.