Ocean City Station 4

Photo from ocvfc.com

Photo by Rusty

On or about September 24, 2013, OCFD vacated its original Station 4 opened 1974 at 12925 Coastal Hwy at 130th Street. Engine 7-4 and Paramedic 7-4 moved to several bays (one open and at left in middle photo) of the nearby Parks Dept Garage at 12801 Jamaica Ave. This is about 500 yards away at the end of a cul-de-sac behind Montego Bay Shopping Center next to Northside Park. Station 4 was demolished to make room for a larger new two-story, three-bay, 11,500 square foot firehouse to be completed before the start of next season. Reportedly the next project to follow this one will be a replacement for Station 3 possibly in front of the public safety building at 65th Street.

Photo from oceancity.com

Sussex Station 106

The latest "new" station in Sussex County Delaware is Station 106. This opened May 31, 2013,

as the third home for the Sussex County EMS (SCEMS) Long Neck Medic 106. It is addressed as 31282 Indian Mission Road (Route 5) north of Mid Sussex Rescue Squad Station 91 and Route 24 in the Long Neck area.

Medic 106 began service in May 2000 from the Seafarers Village Shopping Center off Long Neck Road. In summer of 2004, Medic 106 moved to its second home at the new Mid Sussex RS Station 91. The latest Station 106 is the second SCEMS owned station the other for Laurel Medic 102 as all the others are leased.

Another SCEMS facility Station 104 in Midway covers the busy Delaware Route 1 corridor. Medic 104  resides in this unique commercial building. It is addressed as 18385 Olde Coach Drive on the east side of Route 1 north of Route 24.

Originally Medic 104 was in a smaller temporary garage and trailer building adjacent to the current the road then known as Brian Drive. This facility was dedicated June 17, 2009, to Paramedic Stephanie Callaway who was killed in the line of duty in June 2008. All photos by Rusty.

New Station for Bryans Road

A recent trip into Charles County brought us by the new home of the Bryans Road VFD&RS. Built on the site of the previous station of 1965 original vintage it is addressed as before at 3099 Livingston Road near Billingsly Road. This new and larger building is their 4th home and was occupied about May 1, 2013. As reported on brvfd.com, Co 11 occupied trailers on site while their previous station was razed and this built in its place. The Bryans Road VFD&RS organized in September 1962 and went in service June 6, 1963. 

A roster of their fleet (as I have it) follows. Correction of course welcome.

E 112  '01 E-1 "Cyclone II" 4dr 1250/500/10 Extrication

E 113  '12 E-1 "Cyclone II" 4dr 30kw 1500/650/20 Cascade & Rescue

E 114  '10 Ford "F-350" 2dr 4x4 pick-up /DPC 200/150

E 115  '99 Ford "F-350" 2dr 4x4 pick-up 250/200

K 11    '04 E-1 "Cyclone II" 4dr 1250/2500/100 tandem rear axle

B 11    '89 Ford "F-250" 2dr 4x4 pick-up 250/200 (xE115)

T 11     '07 E-1 "Cyclone II" 4dr 15kw 100' RMA tandem rear axle

A 118  '11 Ford "E-450" 2dr /'04 PL Custom T3

A 119  '11 Ford "E-450" 2dr /'04 PL Custom T3

U 11    '98 Ford "F-350" 4dr 4x4 pick-up w/ cap >to go to Co 13

C 11    '10 Ford "Expedition" 4dr 4x4 /DPC

Lincoln "City" Fire Station

Photo by Rusty

A recent ride brought a visit by the recently opened Ellendale VFCo No 1's No 2 station in Lincoln DE. Have posted about this new station before but wanted to verify exactly what is run from here. 

On June 24, 2013 the station houses the following...

 Engine 75-2    1996 Sutphen 4dr 1500gpm/1250gwt Extrictn

 Tanker 75-3    1968 Maxim (S) 2dr 1000gpm/2000gwt

 Brush 75-0      2004 Ford (F-550) 2dr 4x4 flatbed /Firematic 500gpm/350gw20gft-A Extrictn

 Special Ops    2006 Spartan (Advantage) 4dr-E /Hackney Tech Rescue  (SsxCo)                 

The address of Station 75 No 2 is 8731 North Old State Road south of Greely Avenue. Lincoln is along the railroad east of US 113 between Ellendale and Milford in northern Sussex County.

OCFD's New Tower 7-1

Parked in front of the Convention Center for the MSFA Convention is OCFD's latest addition.

Tower 1 as lettered is a 2013 E-One "Cyclone II" 100-foot platform quint with 2000-gpm pump and 300-gallon water tank. This will run from HQ as Tower 7-1 displacing the '01 Hurricane" 95-foot tower (shop 705) that will most likely move to Station 5 as Tower 7-5. This will bring retirement (sob, sob) of the long serving Snorkel (shop 711) the '83 Pierce "Arrow" with '66 Pitman boom (once on a Ford "C" chassis).

Reportedly as well, OCFD has ordered a KME "Predator" engine-tanker to replace shop 719 the '89 International, Alexis and shop 720 the '82 International (ex Rescue 707 chassis), '90 Techweld (remounted locally in 1998) both at Station 5 as Tankers 7-5 & 7-5-1.

OCFD Fire Boat & More

The Ocean City FD has finally put their Fire Boat in the Water. This 32' vessel was built by Moore Boats of Bishopville, MD. The unique hull design allows for shallow draft and greater stability and handling.

It has a 700-horsepower diesel power plant and 1200-gpm fire pump. It is kept on a lift at the end of 13th Street west of St Louis Avenue near the 15th Street Firehouse in Ocean City. Keep in mind the adjacent condos (and boats) are private property.

 

To learn more on Moore Boats go to Moore Boats website.

If in Ocean City you may see this along Coastal Highway out front of the Gold Coast Mall. Holding up a banner (thumping a beer sale, happy hour or the like) is this old engine is lettered (barely visible) for the Hacks Point VFCo of Cecil County. 

Based on my records this is a 1960, International "R-185", Seagrave 750-gpm with 750-gallon water tank. As I have, it ran as Engine 1 later Engine 911 and was retired before 1998.

All photos by Rusty.

2013 DelMarVa Parade

 

Photo by Rusty

Saturday May 4 visited Parksley, VA for the 84th annual Del-Mar-Va Association Convention Parade. This is the 13th time it has been held in this Accomack County town. Some highlights: Parksley VFCo's latest addition a 2013 Pierce "Velocity" 2000/1000 as Engine 7-3.  

Photo by Rusty

Photo by Rusty

Tower 9 from the Onancock VFD is this 2012 Pierce "Arrow XT" 100' that like the previous engine saw much action over the last few months in the areas rash of arson fires. 

Photo by Rusty

Another veteran of the recent rash of fires is Rescue Engine 8 of the Tasley VFD is this 1996 Pierce "Lance" 1250/500/40 previously ran with Ashburn Co 6 in Loudoun County VA. 

From the Greenbackville VFD is the latest  Truck 2 their 2012 Pierce "Saber" 1500/500 75' rear mount placed in service this past February. This like their tanker and ambo are painted in the unique slate grey over red scheme.

Photo by Rusty

Photo by Rusty

The Rescue Fire Co of Cambridge MD brought Haz-Mat 1-1, their 2007 Freightliner, Hackney. 

The Ocean City FD brought their long serving 1983 Pierce "Arrow" 1500/200 with 1965 Pitman 85' Snorkel. Known as Snorkel 7-5, this previously ran as Snorkel 11 now shop 711 and will be replaced soon. The boom was previously on a '65 Ford "C-950" that became recently retired Engine Tanker 1501 with the Allen VFCo in Wicomico County, MD. 

Photo by Rusty

Photo by Rusty

Another glad to see was this 1975 Hahn 1250/1000 Engine 51-5 from the Hartley VFCo in Kent County DE. 





The not too distant Bowers FCo brought Quint 40 their uniquely painted 2009 Ferrara "Intruder II" 2000/400 with 75' rear mount. 

Photo by Brandon

Photo by Brandon

Last serving the Millsboro VFCo of Sussex County DE, this 1982 Ford "C-8000", E-One 1250/500 with Tele-Squrt is now Ladder 6 of the Bloxom VFCo of Accomack County. Their only other engine is a 1986 Pierce "Arrow" previously of Selbyville DE. 

One surprise attendee is this 2009 International, Horton A122 of the Ocean Park VFR in Virginia Beach VA.

B-CC Rescue Wagons Follow Up

In previous posts we covered the evolution of the rescue wagons serving the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Rescue Squad in Montgomery County. As is often the case, new info is discovered or the story otherwise changes. Here's a few updates and changes. 

  The second rescue truck with B-CC is not as noted before. It is (as shown in the photo) a 1949 or 1950 Ford F-series COE with an unknown partially covered walk-in body (more about this later).

This was apparently replaced by the 1955 GMC with a very similar looking body. So similar it is believed this was a remount from the Ford minus the rear fender skirts. 

The GMC is remains in service until at least replaced by the Mack "N", Bruco as it now seems this was in early 1961 that truck a '60 build. The '55 GMC may have remained briefly as a second-out or not as it went by 1964 to the Manoa Fire Co of Haverford Township, Delaware County Pennsylvania. From there it goes about 1970 to Upper Darby's believed Highland Park Station also of Delaware County Pennsylvania.

Some photos of it in later life have surfaced and the body identified as built by Approved Fire Equipment Co. This outfit I believe was out of somewhere in New York and built bodies (larger ones) for rescue wagons serving the Philadelphia FD and FDNY as well as others. In comparing photos of those to the above there are some aspects that makes one doubt Approved as the builder. Then again I was not around then and have no idea who the builder actually was. Anyone wishing to comment or correct please do so. 

As for another of the B-CC squad trucks, the recently replaced 1994 Simon-Duplex, Saulsbury has gone to Aurelius New York. [Photo credits for above to unknown photographer posted on  Facebook.com/Unofficial History of Montgomery County Fire Rescue Services Maryland.]

Sussex Co DE Follow Up

Photo by athomas as posted on evfd75.com

In the last post we covered the various new stations opening in Sussex County. Seems however one  managed to get by me. The Ellendale FCo No 1 has recently completed their new Station 2. This is located at 8751 North Old State Road (Road 213) s/o Greeley Ave. This is in the incorporated town of Lincoln e/o US 113 not too far from (southwest of) SCEMS Medic 101 Station. As per their website, evfd75.com it is uncertain if this is in service yet or what apparatus is assigned. Thanks to Steve for the update and stay tuned for more or visit the Ellendale Fco No 1 website evfd75.com .

New Sussex County DE Stations

Photo by Rusty

In the past few years, three of Sussex Delaware's companies have opened No 2 stations. The first we'll cover is for the Millville VFCo. On June 21, 2006 they opened a No 2 house from a retrofitted barn at 34237 Omar Road west of Route 26 in the Clarkesville area. This however closed on February 16, 2009 the old barn razed for a new facility. On May 20, 2010 the Millville VFCo opened their new and much larger Station 2 on the same site and address. Assigned is E84-1, Tanker 84 (both for sale) and on occasion one of their ambulances.

Photo from laurelfiredepartment.com

On June 1, 2012, the Laurel FD No 1 opened a No 2 house a two-bay affair at 29022 Fire Tower Road near Sycamore Street in the Sycamore area east of Laurel north of Route 26. This area was briefly served by a temporary Station 2 back in late 2004 to fall 2005 while construction was underway reducing response times there. Assigned to the current house are E81-3, E81-4 and Br 81-0.

Photo by Rusty

In August 2012, the Memorial FCo of Slaughter Beach opened a No 2 Station at 8009 Slaughter Beach Road (Route 224) near Rutt Road east of Argos Corner and Del Route 1. Assigned is E89-5 a '88 Spartan 4-Guys that ran as E83-1 with the Millsboro VFCo.

Photo by Patrick C. Miller from Dagsborovfd.com

On November 10, 2012, a ground breaking ceremony was held by the Dagsboro VFCo. The new and larger Station 73 will be on Railroad Avenue at the tracks east of US 113.