New Fire Truck Wiscasset Fire Department will host a "Wet Down Ceremony" of their new fire truck, Sunday, May 4, at the Fire Station. On Route 1 in Wiscasset. Firefighter Nick Merry proudly shows off the new 2008 KME Predator that arrived this week in Wiscasset. (Photo Charlotte Boynton)

Keeping with the volunteer fire department tradition, the Wiscasset Fire Department will host a "Wet Down Ceremony" for the town's new fire truck, Sunday, May 4, at the fire station on Route 1, in Wiscasset beginning at noon, and wishes to invite the citizens of the town to join in celebration.

A wetdown is a celebration in which neighboring departments share in the joy of a new fire engine or truck by coming with their engines and wetting down the new truck, interpreted as a metaphor for a baptism of a fire truck.

The ceremony is also compared to the tradition of christening a newly commissioned ship.

The festivities will include visits from area fire departments, a barbeque, music by WQSS 102.5 "The Peak", an open house, and a visit from Sparky the Fire Dog.

New engine 6, a 2008 KME Predator Engine, has a six-man cab, and pumps 2,000 gallons of water per minute; it arrived in Wiscasset this past week.

The Wiscasset Fire Department covers an area of about 20 square miles, with mutual aid agreements with every town in Lincoln County as well as some in Sagadahoc County.

The department consists of about 45 active firefighters. According to their website they run an average of 130 calls per year.

The firefighters hold weekly training sessions on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month at 6 p.m., at the fire station. Monthly company training is held the third Wednesday of each month.

Firefighters must train for several weeks and pass several tests before being assigned a role at an actual emergency, and pass several tests.

If you are a resident of Wiscasset, 18 years old, and physically fit, the Wiscasset Fire Department would like to recruit you to become a firefighter.