Hot Springs Village, Arkansas — The Hot Springs Village Fire Department is proud to announce the arrival and official service entry of its newest apparatus, a 2026 Skeeter Mini Pumper, marked by a traditional “Push-In Ceremony” held Wednesday, May 6 at 11:30 a.m. at the Cortez Fire Station, 110 Cortez Road. 

The Push-In Ceremony is a long-standing tradition in the fire service dating back to the late 1800s. In its earliest form, firefighters would return from calls with horse-drawn fire apparatus that could not be easily backed into station bays. As a result, crews and community members would work together to push the equipment back into the station. Today, the tradition is preserved as a symbolic gesture of unity between firefighters and the communities they serve. 

Members of the Hot Springs Village community joined firefighters, department leadership, and representatives from the Property Owners Association to ceremonially push the new engine into service, officially welcoming it into the fleet. The apparatus was ordered in 2024 and delivered earlier this year, replacing an 18-year-old unit. 

The 2026 Skeeter Mini Pumper enhances the department’s operational capability with improved maneuverability, particularly within the Village’s varied terrain and residential areas, while maintaining essential firefighting and response functions. 

At the conclusion of the ceremony, Fire Chief Jeremy Simmons shared remarks on the significance of the new addition: 

“This is a valuable addition to our community, equipping our firefighters with enhanced tools and capabilities. This project has been two years in the making, and we sincerely thank the Board of Directors and General Manager Ken Unger for their ongoing support and commitment to keeping our community safe. Although compact in size, the new Mini Pumper provides increased maneuverability throughout the Village while ensuring our team has the resources needed to respond effectively and efficiently.”