Eastern Sho' Updates

Okay folks I'm gonna take a departure from my usual ramblings to post some updates on new apparatus here on the Eastern Shore. Lets start south and work north. First off in Accomack County Virginia, Greenbackville has a new Tanker 2-7 that is a 2010 Peterbilt "340", Freedom Fire Equipment 500gpm with 3000gwt. Placed in service March 24 this replaces their '78 Ford "L-900", '86 LTI FM750/3000 that originally had a Sanford body.  

Just north Pocomoke has reportedly placed in service as Tanker 1 a 2009 International "Workstar", Firouvac 750gpm with 3500gwt. This replaces their '79 Ford "L-9000", 4-Guys that I am told has 30,000 miles on its odometer. No info on my last visit to their web site. Of note, this is the fourth new tanker in Worcester County over the past few years two others from 4-Guys one from Deep South. The next one expected is a mammoth tandem axle Spartan, Rosenbauer 4500gwt for Berlin.

Back to the US 13 corridor, Salisbury added at last years end a new Haz-Mat 1. This is a 2009 Freightliner M-2-112, Hackney tractor trailer painted black over red. It is similar in size to another haz-Mat recently going to the Rescue Fire Co of Cambridge in Dorchester County. Unknown if this will replace the '01 outfitted '93 International, Hackney beverage truck running as Haz-Mat 2. That may become a support maybe not. Seems too Salisbury's web site is down so no info there but you can see an image on Fire in the Hole Photography.

West out MD Route 12, the West Side VFD of Bivalve has a new International "Workstar", looks to be a Seagrave for Tanker 12. There were no specs on my site visit but I'm guessing the tank is about 3000gwt. This replaces Tanker 1207's '79 Ford "L-900", '92 4-Guys FM750/4200. In other Wicomico County news, Fruitland it seems has gotten rid of fianlly Engine 308 their canopy cab '82 Ford "C-8000" Pierce TM1000/1000 ex Engine 301. No idea where it went though. On order, Mardella Springs and Allen are both expecting new tandem rear axle, four-door KME "Predator" 1500gpm 2500gwt tankers each with foam 30-gallons for Mardella and 50-gallons each of A&B for Allen. See Antietam Fire for drawings and pics. Just south of Allen my favorite place Mount Vernon has a new Ferrara engine on order. I'm sure viewing it let alone getting a picture will require a strip search and Homeland Security pass -LOL. (this applies to a weird visit I had there a few years back where I thought I was gonna wind up at the Gitmo for some water boarding)

Farther north in Caroline County, Greensboro has a new Engine 604 that is a Pierce "Velocity" 1500gpm with 1000gwt. This replaces a '87 Seagrave "HB" 1250gpm/1000gwt. Havn't been buy Caroline 600 of late to see if the Seagrave is still in service. On all of these I have no info on where any of these replaced rigs are destined for. I have also heard a tanker out of Cecil County has gone to Lakes and Straights in Dorchester County. Havn't made that trek in a long while so no confirmation. Any additions corrections updates are welcome. -RG UPDATE: In the forgot to mentions, Princess Anne has a new 2010 Ford "F-350" pick-up brush truck specs to follow. Farther north Cheswold VFCo in Kent County Delaware has a new Pierce "Impel" 1500-gpm rescue engine replacing thier long serving '84 ALF, Saulsbury rescue squad.

2010 Blizzard Casualties

As most are certainly aware, this winter has brought record snowfall to the region. Sadly this has negatively impacted various fire rescue departments whose stations became casualties of the weather of you will. The most reported is of course the fire that struck Baltimore County FD’s Dundalk Station 6 about 2:30 am on Wednesday February 10. This may actually have been unrelated to the weather. The two-alarm blaze destroyed a brand new as yet to be in service not even with hose on it Spartan, Rosenbauer for Engine 6 as well as Brush 6 and Medic 106. A National Guard HumVee there for the storm was also heavily damaged but reportedly started up upon its removal. Engine 61 made it out and battled the flames. Engine 6 and Medic 6 were recovered after still in usable condition. The apparatus room portion of the station is destroyed. This was part of a 1988 renovation addition with the original portion built in 1949 as the living area that survived unharmed. After, Engine 6 moved about a mile southeast to a Technical College with Medic 6 at Eastview Station 15 and Engine 61 and Medic 106 (using a reserve) at Edgemere Station 9. Reportedly, Engine 6 has since returned home the unaffected living portion of the station used their apparatus parked outside. Plans for a portable building on site reportedly were scrapped as it would take as long as getting the materials to have the apparatus bays rebuilt. This time I'm certain their will be sprinklers. As of this writing no cause has been determined.

At about 10 am on Thursday February 11 fire struck the Sykesville Freedom District FD, Carroll County Station 12. This was caused by a ruptured gas line the result of the roof collapsing from the heavy snow. All apparatus was removed and went to work however after three alarms the social hall portion of the firehouse is lost. This station opened in 1972 as Sykesville Station 2. In 1981 it was decided to consolidate the two stations. In spring 1985 Station 1 on Main Street in Downtown Sykesville closed moving to the new and larger station built on site of the previous building. The station is again expanded in 2001. Oddly the old Station 1 also burned back on February 24, 1969, reportedly destroying two engines. There is some damage to the living areas while all apparatus is still in station with tents used for some living functions.

To the south in Virginia, the weather brought problems to several stations there as well. In Fairfax County, Baileys Crossroads VFD Station 10 (410) opened in 1972, had their apparatus area roof collapse in the middle of the night on February 8. This pinned all the rigs underneath including Engine, Truck, Medic and Ambulance 410 plus a boat that excepting the latter will all likely need suspension work. By day break, nearby Alexandria FD Station 6 (206) on Seminary Road gets evacuated briefly for similar concerns fortunately no collapse occurs. A check of Fairfax County’s Annandale VFD Station 8 (408) lead to the same however no apparatus is able to return and the crews are “camped out” in tents within the attached social hall. This station is belived first built in 1943 with several additions the last in 1998. Meanwhile, Baileys Crossroads Station 10 (410) is back and running Engine 410 (usinga reserve) on site its crew living in the command bus. Truck 410 using a reserve lives at Seven Corners Station 28 (428) with Ambulance 410 at Jefferson Station 18 (418) and Medic 410 part of the tent city at Annandale VFD Station 8 (408). Farther west in Loudoun County, a weakened roof also hit the 1977 built Middleburg VFD&RS Station 3 (603). This caused Engine and Medic 603 to move briefly to the nearby Upperville VFCo Fauquier County Station 5 (1105) until the roof was properly shored.

Farther east, the Townsend VFCo, New Castle County Station 26 had on Wednesday February 10 the original 1973 portion of the their station collapse. Fortunately this metal building was used as the social hall with no apparatus or other parts of the firehouse harmed as they occupy a new portion built in 2003. Thankfully no one was hurt in any of these incidents. All things considered losses were pretty minimal. What a winter! -RR