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.

Sussex County Updates

Some news to report on changes on Delmarva specifically Sussex County Delaware. The Delmar VFD recently placed in service a new Spartan "Gladiator", 4-Guys 24-foot walk-around as Rescue 74. This replaces the '99 Pierce that was wrecked back February 18, 2011. The Georgetown VFCo has a new Pierce engine under construction while the Memorial FCo of Slaughter Beach has just ordered a new Pierce "Velocity" engine tanker. They recently opened a No 2 station in Argoes Corner (more on new stations in later posts) The Greenwood VFCo will be the next Sussex County company to run a ladder truck as they recently ordered a Rosenbauer "Commander" with 109-foot "Viper" rear mount aerial outfitted as a quint. (see this at DPCemergency.com) The Millville VFCo just ordered a new E-One Typhoon rescue engine as E 84-1 their '87 PemFab, American Eagle recently sold. (see this at Patriotfireusa.com) The Milton FD is expecting a new Spartan "Metro Star", Rosenbauer for Rescue 85.The Selbyville VFCo has recently ordered as well new Rosenbauer "Commander" with T-Rex 115-foot articulating platform the first on the east coast and also a quint to replace Tower 88. In addition E88-4 their '86 Pierce "Arrow" has gone to Bloxom in Accomack County VA as E6-4.

Wilmington Fireboat 7

Back on July 11, the Wilmington FD of Delaware welcomed their latest marine firefighting vessel. This 2012 Metalcraft Marine "Firestorm 70" is 70-feet in length, has a 12,000-gpm rated pump and 300-gallons of AFFF. It is powered by 4) 825-hp diesels with jet drive. It is titled "The Firefighter" like their previous retrofitted vessel that was retired in February 2012. It was subsequently sold to private owner and last seen on a river in New Jersey. I managed to get some shots of the boat back on a very hot day this July.

For more info and pics visit the Fireboat 7 Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/groups/291305134222472/