COMING SOON

An announcement from the RR Technical Department. Coming to a PC near you a new website & storefront featuring Rusty's Rosters. Works are now available in downloadable e-book (pdf) format so you may select and download getting your roster right then and there. No more waiting for processing and mailing. No more lost in the mail. No more CDs. Works will include oldies and new ones including station apparatus rosters, histories and other related works. This web site launch is expected within the next week or two. Stay tuned here for further announcements and the site address.

Berlin FCo at 100

Sunday August 8 was the 100 Year open house held by for the Berlin Fire Co of Worcester County. The company's organization meeting was called by the Mayor and Town Council on January 28, 1910. Before that, the town was protected by an informal if you will brigade its roots traced back to the purchase of a hand pumper in late 1894. In August 1895, the hand pumper was destroyed in one of many fires to strike Berlin. A bucket brigade is all that remained until the current entity formed. (Photo by me)

Their first motorized was a 1912 (seen also '16) Oldsmobile "Autocrat" that reportedly popped its tires responding to the Great Fire of Pocomoke City in 1922. In 1924 came the 1924 Mack "AB" that was restored back in 1983 now frequenting the parade circuit. There have been many other rigs in the fleet since. A picture of a picture (above)  reveals an interesting line up at the 1924 built station annex (today's Berlin Planning Dept) at 3 Bay Street. This is behind the 1916 occupied station (today's Police Dept and Town Hall) at 10 Wiliam Street. As identified L-R is a snub nosed '39 Ford, unknown body as E2 later to the Newark VFCo. A '49 Ford, American 750-gpm as E6 and a '57 Chevy "5000", American FM-750gpm as E5. (Berlin FCo photo, unknown photographer).

Another interesting pic of a pic (again Berlin FCo photo unknown photographer) shows L-R a late 50s Caddy in unique white over green livery for A-2 and their first ambo a '63 Caddy as A1 in service in 1964. This building is recognizable but has large bushes in front. The grey stone  above the door reads "FIRE DEPT 1924".

Days events included a visit by Trooper 4 plus an auto extrication demo. That's my youngest who I can assure you is trying to figure out how to start the thing. (he does that). It seems a few collectable parts of the mutilated car came home as did  the usual assortment of rubber gloves and medical masks taken from the ambo. (Photo by me)

Above left is the latest Brush 602 a 2009 Chevy "K-3500HD", Winsteads 250gpm (Hale) /300gwt/5gft.  At right is a last look at Tanker 6 (previously 605) a '81 Mack "MR-696", Amthor 750gpm/4300gwt. This was reportedly rescued from a life as a trash truck will be replaced soon by a larger tandem rear axle Spartan, Rosenbauer 1500gpm with 4500gwt. As told this old girl still runs great (just like an old Mack ) and her tank still holds its load quite nicely. (Photos by me)

The Berlin FCo currently operates from this their No 1 house at 214 N Main Street in Berlin. This was dedicated in June 1967 and added onto in 1992. Station 2 opened in 1990 and is at 8427 Route 611 just north of Route 376 at Lewis Corner (east of Berlin). Station 3 opened in late 2008 early 2009 in a rented building on the north side of US 50 addressed 10823 east of Friendship Road Route 452 northeast of Berlin . All time suppression apps roster follows. The '24 E1 and '33 E 2 were open cab all the rest enclosed. Berlin FCo also operate A1, A2 and A3 all International, PL Custom ('06, '04 and '07 vintage) plus several utility, command and fire police vehicles.

E1 1924 Mack AB 500/300

E2 1933 Chevy chemical

>Showell VFCo

E3 1938 Mack E-75 500/300

E2 1939 Ford, 500/         

>Newark VFCo

E6 1949 Ford, American 750/

B2? 1954 Dodge M-37 (Power Wagon) military style brush >unknown when in service or unit number.

E5 1957 Chevy 5000, American FM750/500?

E6 1960 Ford F-800, American FM750/750

The 600 prefix company # came to be with central dispatching circa 1965.

E607 1967 Ford C-950, American 1000/1000

B602 1972 Chevy K-30 brush truck

600R1 1975  Mack MB-487B, Swab

>Ocean City still IS as R18

E604 1974 Mack CF-600 (1st canopy cab)

>Bakerton Jefferson Co WVA since sold

E603 1977 Mack CF-600 1500/500 + 50 TeleSqurt

>Truck 603 at Sta 3.

K605 1981 Mack MR-696, Amthor 750/4300

E607 1988 Mack CF-600, Swab 1500/750 @ Sta 2

>being rehabbed

B602 1989 Chevy K-3500 pick-up 250/250 brush

R6     1993 E-One Cyclone 20' walk-around >Had issues and was replaced with a newer near identical model in 2000. Tip check the raised cab area for difference.

E608 1998 Spartan Gladiator, Quality 2000/750 (1st 4dr)

@ Sta 3 now Sta 2(temp)

R6     2000 E-One Cyclone walk-around

To 6  2003 Spartan Gladiator, Quality 2000/300 RK Aerials 100' MM

E604 2006 Pierce Dash 2000/750/20 Extrication

B602 2009 Chevy K-3500 pickup 250gpm/300gwt/5gft

Of course any additions and corrections are welcome. Thanks to long time member and past Chief Engineer Billy Taylor for sharing his expertise on the fleet. Happy 100th Birthday Company 600 thank you for the hospitality!