Plaistow Fire Dept. Inaugurates the ‘Owl’s Nest,’ New Ladder Truck, at Push-In Ceremony

(Additional photographs below.)

Plaistow, N.H., formally inaugurated its new “Owl’s Nest” ladder truck during a public “push-in” ceremony Monday, borrowing a tradition dating back to horse-drawn pumpers.

Fire Chief Chris C. Knutsen said the town adopted the tradition earlier this year when it took delivery of its new ambulance. It will continue when apparatus is brought into service the for the first time. He offered a light-hearted explanation of the custom.

“When they would return to the station after a call, they had to be manually pushed back in. People couldn’t figure out where to find the reverse button on a horse. They would unhitch the horse and they would push the wagon,” he said.

Officials and residents pushed the 66,000-pound truck into the Elm Street station with a bit of help from the truck’s engine. Afterwards, what is now called Truck 3 came back out and residents and officials took turns riding in the bucket atop the ladder.

The chief thanked Town Manager Greg Colby for working with him to replace the town’s 33-year-old ladder truck, selectmen for backing it and taxpayers for approving the $1.6 million investment. He explained that more than 200 buildings in Plaistow require a response from a ladder truck, based on square footage or height, in the event of fire. That means any building greater than 32-feet high from the ground to the eaves or at least 10,500 square feet.

“Everything about our apparatus that we have has specific needs. Those needs are defined by the risks that we have on our community. This apparatus now gives us tools that we need to better serve you as our customers. Our staff worked tirelessly in designing that, and input over several meetings. The hardest decision I ever made as a fire chief was what color we’re going to paint the ladder part of it,” he said.

The new truck also honors the Timberlane Owls mascot, portrayed in a unique way.

“Purposely chose that design and purposely put it on the bucket and called it the ‘Owl’s Nest’ because the bucket is up in the air like you would find in an owl’s nest,” Knutsen noted

The truck was ordered more than two years ago from Allegiance Fire and Rescue and built by Pierce Manufacturing. The chief said Plaistow-based H & H Custom Metal Fabricating donated several mounting brackets for tools and equipment to be properly stored within the truck’s compartments.

He said lengthy lead times began during the COVID-19 pandemic and still continue. Similarly, he said the town ordered a new fire engine a few months ago and isn’t expected to receive it for 40 months.