The Fire Department's Wet Down 2026
By Virun Rampersad, July 2026
Fire Island Pines Fire Department Fire Chief Jordan Cohen and members of the FIPFD on the new engine. Photo courtesy of Jordan Cohen.
On July 25th 2026, the Fire Island Pines Fire Department combined two cherished traditions—its annual Community Barbecue and a ceremonial Wet Down to celebrate the arrival of its new fire truck.
A Wet Down is ceremony is rooted in more than a century of fire service tradition of washing an engine before placing it into service. It symbolizes both the importance of firefighting equipment and the post-fire care that fire departments must take with their equipment. In Fire Island Pines, that tradition carries special meaning.
Since 1959, the volunteer members of the Fire Island Pines Fire Department have protected one of the most unique and challenging communities in the country.
Clern LaFountaine, one of the founders of the Pines Fire Department. Photo courtesy Nicole LaFountaine.
The Pines is located on a barrier island with no paved roads, hundreds of closely spaced wooden homes connected by boardwalks, and a population that can swell to several thousand during the summer season. Covered by trees and bamboo with widespread use of propane gas it is a community with high fire risk. Firefighters must operate in an environment where access is limited, logistics are complex, and every minute counts.
The challenges of fighting fire on Fire Island make every piece of equipment critically important. In that regard, a new fire truck is far more than a vehicle. Rather it is a promise that the department's volunteers will continue to have the tools they need to protect lives, homes, and the community that generations have worked so hard to build. The new vehicle, a 1,250 gallon/minute pumper engine cost $650,000 represents an important community investment to the safety and security of its residents and property.
As Fire Chief Jordan Cohen noted:
“Having equipment like this is critical to helping keep the Pines safe. For this reason, a wet down is both a community and fire department event. It is a celebration and milestone for both as the costs and time it takes – the new truck took four years to build – is significant. It doesn’t happen very often so when it does it’s cause for celebration.”
Photos from Wet Down July 2026. Photos courtesy Fire Island Pines Fire Department.
In a place where fire has always posed one of the greatest threats to life and property, the Wet Down served as a reminder that while traditions endure, they also evolve, ensuring that the Fire Island Pines Fire Department remains prepared to protect the Pines for generations to come.