Its Coming Along

An update on the progress of Ocean City FD Station 5. As you can see it is progressing nicely into a "big house" for the West Ocean City area. This off-island station is staffed entirely by the department's volunteers as most live nearby. For those unfamiliar, it is being built on the site of the previous station on Kyser Point Road north of US 50 in West Ocean City. Station 5 is assigned Engine 1, Engine 2, Tanker 19, Tanker 20 and Snorkel 11 (that is slated for replacement) plus Ambulance 5 a reserve. No doubt old Engine 8 the '53 Ford, American parade piece will likely live here as well. Visit our storefront for an Ocean City FD Roster.

New PGFD Battalion Structure

Effective October 24, PGFD has realigned its field battalion structure. In a nutshell, the Seventh has been eliminated becoming the new First. The old First has been spread out over the Second, Third and Fourth. The station breakdown by battalion is as follows.

BC 801 Sta: 20, 36, 40, 45
BC 802 Sta:   6, 16, 18, 19, 28, 33, 39, 43, 46, 48
BC 803 Sta:   5,   8, 17, 23, 26, 27, 29, 37
BC 804 Sta:   1,   7,   9, 13, 22, 30, 38, 44, 55
BC 805 Sta: 21, 24, 25, 32, 42, 47
BC 806 Sta: 10, 11, 12, 14, 31, 34, 35, 41, 49

Chiefs at stations underlined. BC 803 & 805 are on-duty 24/7 all others on day work.

The North, Central and South Bureau Chiefs (Majors) have become shift duty chiefs deignated "Operations Chief 800" each with other specified responsibilities. There is also a Field Major for Advanced EMS. Special thanks to Jim Sullivan and Curt Elie for keeping me in the loop on this.

New Station Openings

The Washington DC suburbs are seeing a rash of new station openings. In Montgomery County Maryland, Station 34 opened on September 11 in the East Germantown Area. Known as the Milestone Station it is located at 20633 Boland Farm Rd off Route 355. Boland Farm is actually the old Route 118. Assigned is Engine 734 one of the many new Spartan Crimsons, a new Ambulance 734 plus Truck 734 currently from reserve. The rumor mill has either Tower 729 or the recently deactivated Truck 712 TDA going there. Soon to open is the rebuilt Takoma Park Station 2 still at 7201 Carroll Ave. This has a new and larger 3-bay apparatus room seperating the living sections that have used some of stone taken from Sligo Creek for the original 1928 castle-like station. In addition to Engine and Ambulance 702 living in a nearby temporary facility, this will likely bring back Truck 702 eliminating Truck 716 that replaced Truck 712 in July. It is uncertain if we'll see a return of Truck 701 so stay tuned.

In Prince George's County, Tuxedo-Cheverly Station 22 closed at the end of August to be replaced by the new Saint Josephs Station 6. Located at 2901 Saint Josephs Drive at Ardmore-Ardwick Road in Sprindale this was scheduled to open on August 29. The dedication ceremony took place August 31 with Reserve Engine 22 as the new Engine 806, joined by the re-assigned Rescue Squad and Technical Rescue plus Ambulance 806 and Battalion 801 (now 802). Issues with the building prevented it from actually going in service with the displaced units from Station 22 placed at nearby stations. Station 6 formally went in service on October 26. Station 22 will return to service by next spring with an engine or the quint and an ambulance. Stay tuned on this one.

To the south in Prince William County Virginia the new River Oaks Station 23 also opened September 11 at 16530 River Ridge Blvd east of US 1. Not too far from Potomac High School this, a No 3 substation of the Dumfries-Triangle VFD and Dumfries-Triangle RS, splits the gap between Station 3 and Station 12. It is assigned Engine 523 using what was Engine 503B plus one of the ambulances from Station 3 EMS.

In Washington DC, plans to renovate the circa 1916 built Cleveland Park firehouse on Connecticut Ave & Porter St NW were accelerated when issues were found necessitating its closure.  On November 9, Engine 28 and Truck 14 moved north to Engine 31's with Ambulance 28 east to Engine 21's. Renovation plans have reportedly been approved but no bids solicited.


For updated station apparatus rosters covering most of the above new stations (one for Prince Wiliam is in the works) go to Rustys Rosters Storefront or click on the links list at right.  

ATTENTION ALL STATIONS AND PERSONNEL

Finally after a long and arduous jorney, Rusty's Rosters formally launches a NEW online storefront. Detailed up to date rosters and histories are now available in downloadable Ebook pdf format. The sites shopping cart feature allows you to browse and easily select multiple items before check out. Payment is fast and secure through Paypal. No more shipping, no more lost in the mail, no more expensive printing or CDs (those remain available as special order). Check back often as many new works are to be added. Click on the link at right or use the web address as follows http://RustysFireRosters.com. Be sure to bookmark us as well!

Lower Shore Station News

Here's some local goings on that have been sitting in my 'to do' box far too long. Back in May, the Ocean City FD vacated Station 5. That is their West Ocean City house on Kyser Point Road north of US 50. Opened in 1974, this metal building with brick facade was expanded in 1991. The assigned engine and probably one of the tankers are next door at the Public Works Yard. The truck, other tanker and possibly reserve ambulance and boat are at Trimper's warehouse reportedly somewhere off Route 611 near the Ocean City Harbor area.

The vacated firehouse was subsequently razed. Construction is currently underway to build a new and much larger 5-bay station on site. This will certainly be far more accommodating of assigned units and the many volunteers running out of this house. This general area is where most of the OCFD's membership live and there has long been talk of a sort of alternate Headquarters here. Of course during the transition period when the OCVFCo merged with he OCDES and became the OCFD, the volunteers threatened at one point to leave the island (Stations 1-4 to the city) setting up from this location.

In other news just to the west in Wicomico County, the Parsonsburg VFCo Station 6 is about to move to its new more accommodating digs just east of the previous on Route 346 east of Parsonsburg Road. This 6-bay metal building has two drive through bays on left plus a large community hall at rear. Expected to open soon, this replaces their outdated circa 1927 facility they have so long occupied. For more on this, log onto parsonsburgfire.com.

Continuing west into Dorchester County, it seems the East New Market VFD Station 21 is also moving soon to a new 5-bay metal station. This replaces their much smaller 1948 occupied brick building at 101 Main Street at Railroad Avenue. That building was previously Neighbors Tavern, People's Service Station and originally Millenson's Department Store built about 1913 or 14. The location of the new house is as yet confirmed, believed to be south of town along Route 392. More to follow on this one. For info log onto eastnewmarketvfd.com.

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!