Wetdown

For the U.S. Navy ceremony, see Wetting-down. For the ceremonial water salute given to vehicles, including ships and airplanes, see Water salute.

File:392wetdown.jpg

Great River Fire Department's first due engine being wetdown.

A wetdown is a ritual celebrated by many volunteer fire departments in the United States in which squads of firefighters from neighboring towns ritualistically commission a new fire apparatus by anointing it with water sprayed from the visitors' firefighting equipment.

If two new apparatus' are commissioned, then it is considered to be a "Double Wetdown". If three new apparatus' are commissioned, then it is called a "Triple Wetdown". Or if four new apparatus' are commissioned, then it is considered as a "Quadruple Wetdown".

External links

• Handleman, Lillian R. "Wet Down Held for New Fire Truck", ReminderNews, 2 December 2008.
• "Truckin' in Fair Haven" Red Bank Green, 15 June 2009.
• "Dedication and Wet-down of Engine 35-2, Kinderhook Fire Department, 11 September 2005.
• Norfolk, CT Engine 40 Wetdown July 25, 2009.