Author Topic: City of Warren Fire Department (Read 6442 times)

YARBFD10 · « **on:** October 10, 2008, 09:07:36 AM »

Ok, this shocks me that no one has started this thread. So I must get it started! First I have to say that I was born in Warren in 1980, and while I no longer live there I still have family ties there. I also have some friends on the department that feed me info from time to time. I had the opportunity to work for the WFD back in 2005, but passed on the job because I was just hired at Lakewood. Because I passed on the job, one of my good friends was able to get hired. I took that test with 2 friends and we score #1, #2, & #7. My friend at #1 passed at the job because he was just promoted to Lieutenant with the Mentor Fire Department, and I passed because of the LFD. I have always been a WFD buff, so anyone with any pics or info are welcome to add to this thread.

So here is some info to get this started. Some of this info I collected from Steve Bournias, another WFD buff.

The City of Warren Fire Department operates 3 stations. Station 1, "Central" as its called by the guys, is located downtown on South Street, south of the square. It houses Squad 1, Ladder 1, Rescue 1, the A/C, the dispatch office, and the Chief. Station 5 is located on Atlantic Street on the city's northeast side. It houses Engine 5 and 3 men. Station 6 is located on Parkman Road (US 422) and houses Ladder 6 and 3 men. In its prime WFD operated 6 houses with 6 engine companies, 3 ladder companies, & the squad. Station 2 was located on N. Park Ave. near the GE Ohio lamp plant. It closed permanently in 1971. The original Station 3 opened in 1922 on W. Market at Nevada. It closed in 1944 temporarily due to manning shortages because of WWII. The building is still there, and the last time I went by it someone had done some work to it. It closed permanently in 1963. The second Station 3 opened in 1963 along with the current Station 6. It is located in the Southwest corner of the city on Palmyra Road, and closed permanently in 1995. Station 4 opened in 1932 but closed the same year. It was re-opened in 1937 but closed permanently in 1971. The building is currently the home for MedStar Ambulance and has been for decades. Station 5 on Atlantic was built in 1957 but did not open until 1960 due to lack of personnel. Station 6 opened in 1963 along with Station 3 on Palmyra.

The WFD started running an ambulance in the late 1970's but ceased in the early 1990's. Not sure why.

Warren's apparatus choices have always been fascinating to me. They seem very loyal to a single manufacturer at times, but in the 1980's the WFD went askew. American LaFrance was the choice of the late 60's & 70's. Seagrave made an appearance in the late 50's and early 60's. E-One however, has been the rig of choice since 1992. In the 1980's the WFD purchased what may have been the cheapest bidder. In 1980 a Duplex engine with a 1000gpm pump was purchased for Engine Co. 1. Then again in 1984 another Duplex was purchased with a 1250gpm pump. I guess in 1989 the WFD got wise and purchased a Pierce Arrow with a 1250gpm pump. This rig appears to be the fan favorite among WFD members, and was the departments most reliable rig.

In 1968 an American LaFrance 90' Snorkel was purchased. It ran from Station 6 for some time but was moved to Station 1 later. 1974 saw 3 new rigs. A GMC / American LaFrance 100' aerial was purchased and was labeled as Ladder No. 3. It ran from Station No. 1 until 1992 when it was moved to reserve status and was housed at Station 5 on Atlantic St. Two identical GMC / American LaFrance 1000gpm pumpers were purchased also. They went to Engine 1 and Engine 3. In 1976 the WFD purchased two identical American LaFrance Pioneer IIIs with 1000gpm pumps. They went to Engine 1 and Engine 3 with the 1974 GMCs going to 5 & 6 I believe. The ALF Pioneers had to be my favorite rigs the WFD ever purchased. I have yet to see a Pioneer III in Northeast Ohio, excluding Cleveland who had some Pioneer III aerials. The WFD did have a Seagrave in my lifetime. It was a 1963 'K' model with a 1000gpm pump, but was always in reserve status at Station 6 for as long as I can remember.

The "SQUAD"... I have some confilicting reports as to what the mfg year was for the GMC squad. It is either a 1964 or 1969 and was built my Gerstenslager. It ran from Station 1 until 1992 and was sold to someone local. I spotted it in a trailer park across from the Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport shortly after it was sold. The 1992 E-One Cyclone replaced the GMC as Squad 1. Known as the 'ball-buster' the Cyclone was too cramped for squad members in the back seat. In 1997 the current squad was purchased, an E-One Hush. Much more roomy, and about 10' longer.

In the 80's the WFD amazed me at how many rigs they could cram into Station 1. On a field trip, I remember seeing Engine 1 (84 Duplex), Squad 1 (GMC), Rescue 1 (Ambulance), Ladder 2 (Snorkel), & Ladder 3 (GMC). Sometimes a reserve engine would be shoe horned in there also. Not bad for a 3 bay station!

Below I posted some pics. Some are mine, some are not. The group of vintage rigs were posted by MFDPhoto1. Enjoy.

1 - H&L No. 1 - 1939 American LaFrance 500 series 85' TDA
2 - Squad 1 - GMC/Gerstenslager
3 - Ladder 3 - 1968 American LaFrance 90' AeroChief
4 - Ladder 3 - 1974 GMC / American LaFrance 100'

YARBFD10 · « **Reply #1 on:** October 10, 2008, 09:12:20 AM »

1 - 1954 Dodge Powerwagon - Not sure of designation
2 - 1974 GMC / American LaFrance 1000gpm
3 - 1976 American LaFrance Pioneer III 1000gpm

YARBFD10 · « **Reply #2 on:** October 25, 2008, 01:04:22 PM »

#1 - Squad 1 - 1997 E-One Hush
#2 - Ladder 1 - 1992 E-One Hurricane 95' Platform
#3 - Rescue 1 - 1997 E-One Hush
#4 - Fmr Engine 6 - 1992 E-One Cyclone TC - Fmr Sqd 1, Eng 6, now Eng 5

wfd44 · « **Reply #3 on:** October 27, 2008, 09:02:48 PM »

wfd motor apparatus roster

1911.....seagrave hose & chemical no2
1912.....robinson 700gpm pumper no1
1916.....jackson car chassis w/former horse-drawn box attached no3
1918.....seagrave 900gpm no4
1918.....seagrave straight frame tillered aerial wood 75ft no1
1920.....alf 750gpm no3
1921.....seagrave 1000gpm no1
1921.....seagrave city service ladder truck no1
1929.....alf 200 ''master'' series 1250gpm no5 first one off the alf line
1932.....seagrave factory rebuild to brand new of 1921 city service truck
1936.....seagrave factory rebuild to brand new of 1921 1000gpm pumper
1936.....seagrave factory rebuild to brand new of 1918 900gpm pumper
1939.....alf 500 series 85ft tillered steel hydraulic aerial h&l no1
1943.....alf 600 series pumper 750gpm no2
1943.....seagrave k pumper 750gpm no1
1943.....mack E pumper/tanker 500gpm/500gwt ''emrgency truck''
1948.....seagrave 65ft k-series ''junior aerial'' ladder no2
1949.....int'l k-series/Amer Marsh Pumps 500gpm pumper-600gwt tanker
'emergency truck no1'
1951.....alf 700 series 1250gpm pumper no1
1951.....alf 700 series 1250gpm pumper no2
1954.....dodge power wagon chassis 4x4 brush unit
1957.....seagrave anniversary series 1250gpm pumper no5
1963.....seagrave k-series 1000gpm/300gwt pumper no1
1964.....int'l co8190 custom/seagrave 1000gpm/300gwt pumper no5
1965.....fwd dodge mini pumper no10 high pressure
1968.....alf 900 series aero-chief 90ft snorkel ladder no3
1969.....gmc/gerstenslager high-pressure squad no1
1974.....gmc/alf 1000gpm/500gwt diesel engine no1
1974.....gmc/alf 1000gpm/500gwt diesel engine no3
1974.....gmc/alf 100ft mid-mounted aerial diesel ladder no3
1975.....jeep brush unit no7
1976.....alf/pioneerIII 1000gpm/500gwt diesel engine no1
1976.....alf/pioneerIII 1000gpm/500gwt diesel engine no3
1979.....gmc/braun paramedic rescue no1
1980.....duplex/fmc 1000gpm/750gwt diesel engine no1
1984.....duplex/fmc 1250gpm/750gwt diesel engine no1
1986.....new chassis & remounted box for rescue no1
1989.....pierce/arrow 1250gpm/750gwt diesel engine no1
1992.....e-one/cyclone tc 4-door top-mounted 1250gpm /500gwt squad 1
1992.....e-one/hurricane 4-door 1500gpm/150gwt/95ft rear-mounted
[platform] ladder 1
1997.....e-one/hush 4-door top-mounted 1500gpm /750gwt foam A-B
hydraulic ladder rack/ raised roof squad 1
1997.....e-one/hush 3-door heavy rescue/hazmat/command / raised roof
rescue 1
2004.....e-one/cyclone II 2000gpm/500gwt/75ft rear-mounted aerial
ladder 6

YARBFD10 · « **Reply #4 on:** October 30, 2008, 10:35:15 AM »

1984 Duplex Omega 1250gpm / 750 gallon tank

Served as Engine No. 1, Engine No. 5, Engine No. 6, and Reserve No. 6

wfd44 · « **Reply #5 on:** October 30, 2008, 11:22:26 AM »

At the Warren-Trumbull Library where Greg is employed I have in the History-Archives a collection of all my WFD papers, books and pics. Included are 3 pics not found on this thread. The 1948 Seagrave Jr Aerial 65ft Ladder No2; the 1957 Seagrave 70th Anniversary Sedan 1250gpm No3; and the 1964 Int'l co8190/Seagrave 1000gpm/300gwt No5. These were taken by the late Morris Hagerty of Liberty Township -an avid YFD buff of the highest order; and he copied these for me along with a copy of the entire fleet as it existed in 1922 staged at High St and Mahonoing Ave. I suggest that possibly Greg still has copied in his databank of all of these. If so it would be nice to see them posted here.

Over the years efforts at obtaining factory pics of all of the WFD roster have proven elusive and very prohibitively costly. if that should ever change for the better I would very much like to get the complete collection from the various manufactureres and post them.

YARBFD10 · « **Reply #6 on:** November 17, 2008, 09:45:14 AM »

The following pics are from Greg's WFD website.

Central Fire Station - 111 South St. SW - Opened 1971
Station No. 2 - 1435 N. Park Ave. - Closed 1971
Station No. 3 - W. Market St. & Nevade - Closed 1963

YARBFD10 · « **Reply #7 on:** November 17, 2008, 09:48:26 AM »

More from Greg...

Station No. 3 - 1275 Palmyra Rd. NW - Closed 1995
Station No. 4 - 1600 Youngstown Rd. SE - Closed 1971
Station No. 5 - 1600 Atlantic St. NE - Opened 1960
Station No. 6 - 2454 Parkman Rd. NW - Opened 1963

YARBFD10 · « **Reply #8 on:** November 17, 2008, 09:51:12 AM »

More from Greg...

Squad No. 1 - 1997 E-One Hush 1500gpm / 750 gallon tank
Ladder No. 1 - 1992 E-One Hurricane 95' Platform / 1500gpm / 150 gallon tank

YARBFD10 · « **Reply #9 on:** November 17, 2008, 09:54:12 AM »

More from Greg's site...

Rescue No. 1 - 1997 E-One Hush
Engine No. 5 - 1992 E-One Cyclone TC 1250gpm / 500 gallon tank
Reserve Engine - 1989 Pierce Arrow 1250gpm / 750 gallon tank