Cal Fire chiefs and Gridley City Council members mark the arrival of Gridley’s new ladder truck with a push-in ceremony. From left are Cal Fire Chief Jason Dyer, Cal Fire Chief Garret Sjolund, Gridley Vice Mayor Bruce Johnson, Cal Fire Battalion Chief Mike Conaty, Gridley City Councilmember and retired Gridley police officer Jim Roberts, Gridley City Councilmember Angel Calderon and Gridley City Councilmember Catalina Sanchez.

GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) - Gridley City Council members, city staff, community members and visiting dignitaries from Gridley’s recently established sister city, Comala, Mexico, gathered outside Gridley Fire Department Station 74 for a tradition that goes back to a time before motorized fire engines.

Cal Fire/Butte Unit, in partnership with the Gridley Fire Department, held a reception marking the occasion Friday, Aug. 28, officially celebrating the newest addition to the department with the time-honored tradition of pushing the truck into its new bay at the station.

The group was welcomed by local Battalion Chief Mike Conaty, who introduced Cal Fire/Butte Unit Chiefs Jason Dyer and Garret Sjolund.

Sjolund explained the origins of the tradition.

“When we were horse-drawn fire apparatus, they would wash a new piece of equipment and push it back in,” said Sjolund. “Somewhat ‘blessing it,’ if you will, into the fire station and community.”

Sjolund said fire apparatus is typically in use for decades and receiving a new truck is a momentous occasion for the community.

Visiting dignitaries from Gridley’s sister city of Comala, Mexico, joined the celebration for the arrival of Gridley’s new ladder truck. Comala Mayor Daniela Orozco said through a translator that she was impressed with the size of the equipment and joked that it would not fit down the streets of her town.

Gridley’s new 105-foot Pierce ladder truck replaces Gridley’s previous ladder truck, an American LaFrance now nearly 20 years old.

“That (previous) ladder truck served the community well for nearly two decades, responding to numerous fires and providing emergency responses both within the city of Gridley and throughout the surrounding area,” said Cal Fire Chief Jason Dyer.

“Recognizing the need to replace aging equipment, (Gridley City) Council voted in 2024 to purchase a new ladder truck to maintain the high level of services the community expects and deserves,” said Dyer.

“Fire personnel spent countless hours designing this new apparatus and after nearly two years of production, this new Pierce 105-foot ladder truck has arrived, representing a major upgrade in capability, reliability and community safety,” added Dyer.

Sjolund described the new truck as a “Swiss Army knife” for the department and said it carried everything needed by the department to respond to the community’s needs.

“I also want to recognize and thank you for the 35 years of the cooperative fire agreement that you’ve had with Cal Fire and the uniqueness here in Gridley at this station is nowhere else in the county,” said Sjolund, highlighting the capabilities the partnership brings to local residents.

Station 74 crew members, Cal Fire/Butte Unit personnel and City Council members then joined forces to push the large truck backward into the bay, officially commemorating its addition to the Gridley Fire Department fleet.