Flagler County Fire Rescue held a a ribbon-cutting and push-in ceremony at 8 a.m. on April 3 at Palm Coast Fire Station 25. Several county and city leadership were in attendance including Palm Coast Mayor David Alfin.
The city of Palm Coast celebrated a significant milestone in its emergency services department with a ribbon cutting and push-in ceremony to welcome a new ambulance to Station 25. The event marked not only the expansion of resources but also a commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of the community.
The ceremony, attended by city officials, emergency responders, and members of the public, was a symbol of unity and collaboration. Mayor David Alfin, alongside Flagler County Fire Chief Mike Tucker, expressed their gratitude for the continued support of the community in enhancing emergency response capabilities.
City officials in attendance included County Commissioners Andy Dance and Greg Hansen, Palm Coast Mayor David Alfin, Flagler County Fire Chief Mike Tucker, Palm Coast Acting City Manager Lauren Johnston, Flagler Beach Fire Captain Stephen Coxm and Palm Coast Fire Chief Kyle Berryhill.
“I just want to say thank you to the City of Palm Coast and our fire chief, Chief Barry Hill here, Chief Tucker. The partnership between the City of Palm Coast and Flagler County is very important. This is a new location for this rescuethat’s based on service calls and distribution. This is just a better service for the citizens of Palm Coast in this location and make sure that the rescue is available when needed. So, I want to thank everybody for doing the background research and then for getting this one in service,” Commissioner Dance stated.
Flagler County Fire Chief Mike Tucker added, “This was identified as a high-volume area. Being able to keep this unit in place, it’s going to make a big difference in service to the citizens of Palm Coast.”
Station 25, strategically located to serve a growing area of the city, plays a crucial role in responding to medical emergencies, accidents, and other critical incidents. The addition of the ambulance will bolster the station’s capacity to handle emergencies effectively and ensure timely assistance to those in need.
The ribbon cutting ceremony, a customary tradition for such occasions, was a moment of pride for the city and its emergency responders. With a snip of the ribbon, symbolizing the official inauguration of the ambulance, attendees applauded the culmination of months of planning and preparation. Passersby even shouted “Congratulations” as they drove by the station while the ribbon was being cut.
Following the ribbon cutting, the highlight of the event was the “push-in” ceremony. The push-in ceremony traces its origins back to the early days of firefighting when horse-drawn fire engines were manually pushed into their stations after returning from a call. Today, it serves as a symbolic gesture of welcoming the new apparatus into service.
Firefighters, city officals, and emergency personnel gathered around the ambulance, pushing it into its designated bay amidst cheers and applause. As the ambulance took its place alongside the other emergency vehicles at Station 25, it signaled a new chapter in Palm Coast’s emergency response capabilities. With this new addition, the city looks ahead to a future where every resident can feel secure in the knowledge that help is always just a call away.
To view more photos from the ribbon cutting and push-in ceremony, click here.
