"Old Betsy"

Not a picture of the actual truck.

Vehicle:  1923 American-LaFrance / Type #39
Pump:  Rotary gear 600 GPM pump
Unit ID:  Number #1 truck
Served:  1947 to 1953

History:

This truck was the first piece of equipment purchased by the newly formed department during the summer of 1947.  It was acquired from the Port Jefferson Fire Department (Long Island, NY) for $500.00.  It was originally housed in a barn across the street from the location of the present day main firehouse. Affectionately known as "Old Betsy", the truck was sold for junk in the amount of $165.00 in early 1953.  The original bell is all that remains with the department and is on display within the firehouse, used to call the monthly department meetings to order.

WRFD No. 2 / 6-3-1

Vehicle: 1946 Chevrolet / Ward-LaFrance
Pump: Hale 500 GPM
Unit ID: Number #2 / 6-3-1
Served:  1948-1967

History:

After the completion of the construction of the firehouse in June of 1948, a second piece of equipment was ordered.  It was purchased for $6,000.00 and financed by the fire department.  The unit, built on a 2 ton Chevrolet chassis, was originally identified as the "Number #2" truck.  It carried 500 gallons of water. It's first run was a structure fire at a private residence on 12/26/48 along Route 25A.  When Suffolk County went to a division / department / vehicle identifier system in the mid-1950's, the truck became 6-3-1.  After "Old Betsy" was sold in 1953, the bell off of that truck was mounted on the front grill of this rig. The 1946 Chevrolet was in service until August of 1967. It was sold to a civilian.

"Jimmy" / WRFD No. 3 / 6-3-3

Vehicle: 1952 GMC /  American Fire Apparatus
Pump: Barton-American 500 GPM
Unit ID: Number #3 / 6-3-3
Served:  1953 to 1979

History:

The unit, built on a COE 450 GMC chassis, had a front-mount pump and was set-up for "pump & roll" operations, carrying 500 gallons of water.  It was purchased for $9,075.00 and financed by the fire department.  Known as the "Jimmy", this was the last fire vehicle purchased / financed by the fire department, as a fire district was formed in 1954.  It was originally identified as the "Number #3" truck, before  being changed to 6-3-2. When the 1949 White was purchased, it was re-numbered as 6-3-3 for the remainder of its service to the department.  The truck was designed to have minimal equipment mounted on the sides, which allowed it to travel trails to fight brush fires.  The ladders and hard suction slid into compartments located at the back step. It's first run so happened to be a brush fire at Camp Wauwepex on 02/19/53.  The truck was painted in 1966 and the cab lettered in the configuration shown above.  The truck was the department's workhorse from 1953 to 1965. With an extremely loud exhaust system, it could be heard for quite a distance when it traveled the roadways.  Due to constraints with the apparatus room, the truck spent the last two years of service (as a back-up) parked outside before being sold to a civilian.

WRFD No. 4 / 6-3-2A

Picture coming soon!

Vehicle:  1949 White WA-22 series
Pump:  Unknown type
Unit ID:  6-3-2 / 6-3-2A
Served:  1958 to 1971

History:

With an expansion to the original firehouse in 1955 adding a third bay, the 1949 White was purchased by the fire district in the early spring of 1958 from the Mobil Oil Company for $600.00.  It was converted by fire department members to become a much needed water tanker.  Outfitted with a transfer pump accessed through a rear door, the truck was believed to carry approximately 2,000 gallons of water. Although the doors were painted with the inscription "WRFD No. 4", the truck was identified as 6-3-2.  It's first run was to a brush fire on 05/10/58. When the 1969 tanker was purchased, the 1949 was stored outside and identified as 6-3-2A.  It was used as a back-up until being sold in early 1971, due to safety concerns with the truck.

WRFD Rescue No. 1 / 6-3-5

Vehicle:  1957 International Harvester S-125
Unit ID:  Rescue #1 / 6-3-5
Served:  1958 to 1981

History:

With the formation of Emergency-Rescue Company within the department in 1958, a panel truck was purchased to hold the equipment recently obtained.  It also had 4WD due to the area terrain and snow events. This rig would occasionally serve as a transport vehicle, if a patient needed to go to the hospital (area doctors still made house calls in those days), prior to a dedicated ambulance being purchased. With constraints of the firehouse only having three bays for apparatus, an additional single bay was built on the side of the building for this vehicle.  In the mid 1960's, the truck was re-lettered to the configuration shown in the photo above.  At that time it was also designated as unit 6-3-5.  Like many rigs did in their final years with the department, this truck was stored outside due to a second ambulance being obtained.

6-3-6

Picture coming soon!

Vehicle:  1954 Cadillac / Miller
Unit ID:  6-3-6
Served:  1964 to 1967

History:

During the 1960's, the fire department started to experience more frequent ambulance calls that required transport to area hospitals. With a donation received from the "Edith Hallock Fund", the fire department purchased this vehicle from the Brookhaven Ambulance Company for $1,000.00 in early 1964.  Edith Hallock had died the previous year after efforts of department members could not revive her.  When the ambulance was purchased, it was stored where the International had been. The International was moved over to a garage on the Miller property (where the original truck was stored for a period of time), until an addition to the firehouse was completed in 1965.  On 03/09/64, 6-3-6 transported its first patient to Central Suffolk Hospital in Riverhead.
It was sold in June of 1967 when a new ambulance was obtained.

6-3-4

Vehicle:  1965 Sanford Fire Apparatus
Pump:  Hale 750 GPM
Unit ID:  6-3-4
Served:  1965 to 1983

History:

With the expansion of the firehouse, adding a large apparatus bay, the BOFC ordered the first custom cab-forward chassis.  Equipped with a powerful Waukesha gasoline engine, the truck carried 500 gallons of water without any of the difficulties.  Two jump seats added the ability to carry more personnel to calls.  The truck was first due for structure fires most of its time with the department.  In the early 1980's, a front intake was added on the right front corner of the truck.  It was replaced in 1983 by a Pierce Arrow.

6-3-6 / 6-3-16

Picture coming soon!

Vehicle:  1967 Cadillac / Superior
Unit ID:  6-3-6 / 6-3-16
Served  1967 to 1979

History:

A new ambulance was purchased to replace the 1954 Cadillac.  It arrived in early June of 1967 and was originally numbered as unit 6-3-6.  In 1974, Suffolk County FRES requested that all ambulances used "16" as a unit designation.  The ambulance was now identified as unit 6-3-16.  A common concern over the years for this ambulance, as recorded in the department meeting minutes, was for drivers to watch their speed transporting patients.  Apparently the unit accelerated quickly and drove smoothly.  It was sold in 1979.

6-3-1

Picture coming soon!

Vehicle:  1967 Ford C-850 /  Young Fire Apparatus
Pump:  Hale 750 GPM
Unit ID:  6-3-1
Served:  1967 to 1991

History:

The first of several "Super Duty" Fords bought, this cab over truck replaced the 1946 Chevrolet in August of 1967.  When the 1965 Sanford was not used as a first due unit for structure fires, this truck would takes its place.  The truck was popular to drive as it "hugged" the areas winding roads.  In 1972, when the first Hurst spreader and
generator were purchased, it was carried on 6-3-1.  After the 1976 Ford was sold in 1983, 6-3-1 was located for a brief time at station 2 until the 1984 Pierce Arrow was purchased.  By the mid 1980's, with the department now having three Pierce Arrows, 6-3-1 saw limited activity and was designated as a third due engine out of the main firehouse.  It carried 1,000' of 5" hose and was used at structure fires as needed, as it was the only truck with LDH.  It also was the second due out of HQ for brush fires, having the ability to be a trail truck due to its size. It was sold to a fire department in Maine in 1991.

6-3-2

Picture coming soon!

Vehicle:  1969 Ford F-850 / Northville Body
Pump:  Unknown type
Unit ID:  6-3-2
Served:  1969 to 1987

History:

Built on a "Super Duty" chassis, the tank held 2,400 gallons and had a transfer pump mounted in a side compartment.  In 1982, the tanker was moved to the newly built station on Hulse Landing Rd. and remained there
until the 1986 Pierce replaced it.  For a few months, it returned to the main firehouse before being sold in the spring of 1987.

6-3-7

Picture coming soon!

Vehicle:  1971 Dodge W-300
Pump:  Bean High Pressure / Gasoline driven
Unit ID:  6-3-7
Served:  1971 to 1981

History:

This was the first vehicle bought strictly for brush fires.  With 4WD, it was to be used on trails and was outfitted with a high pressure Bean pump powered run by a separate gasoline engine.  It carried 200 gallons of water, Indian cans, hand tools and assorted brush equipment.  On Memorial Day in May of 1981, while operating at a  major brush fire within the Calverton National Cemetery, it sustained damage to the driving linkage and was abandoned due to a fast moving head. Unfortunately, the fast moving fire consumed the Dodge and it was totaled.

6-3-8

Vehicle:  1954 REO M35
Pump:  Hale / Gasoline driven
Unit ID:  6-3-8
Served:  1974 to 1996

History:

As brush fires continued to occur and tactics fighting them changed, fire departments were starting to outfit vehicles that could approach fires and control, rather than letting them burn to trails, fire breaks and streets before they could be extinguished.  A military 6WD was purchased for a menial price and built mostly in house by department members over 1973, before being turned over to the fire district. Affectionately known as the "Polish Express", 6-3-8 carried 600 gallons of water to help combat fires.  Its first major fire that it was used
occurred on 04/28/74.  In 1982, this truck was moved from HQ to the newly built fire station on Hulse Landing Rd.  The body was removed off of the chassis in December of 1996 and installed on the current 6-3-8. The chassis was sold to Manorville FD.

6-3-6

Picture coming soon!

Vehicle:  1976 Ford F-750 / Sutphen Corp.
Pump:  Waterous 750 GPM
Unit ID:  6-3-6
Served:  1976 to 1983

History:

This truck was originally ordered in January 1974.  Due to problems acquiring the body from the vendor, it did not arrive until December of 1976.  Built on a "Super-Duty" chassis, the truck was set-up with an automatic transmission and a front-mount pump.  Ordered with a "pump & roll" feature, it apparently had problems doing this due to the automatic transmission.  It also had weight distribution issues on the rear axle, effecting drivability.  After the weight issues were finally corrected, the truck settled into the department roll pattern.  The truck also had a B foam tank.  This unit was assigned as the engine out of station 2 when it was built in 1982.  It was sold in 1983.

6-3-17

Picture coming soon!

Vehicle:  1977 Dodge / American Coach Corp
Unit ID:  6-3-17
Served:  1977 to 1982

History:

As pre-hospital patient care continued to evolve, several department members successfully completed a course and became Advanced Emergency Medical Technicians (AEMT).  With this certifications Advanced Life Support (ALS) equipment was purchased by the fire district and a larger vehicle was required, as the Cadillac had minimal room.  A Dodge B-van was converted by American Coach into an ambulance and arrived in early 1977.  It was replaced in 1982 by a Ford.