Allegany County

[Engine33Truck]

Here's a few pictures of a couple of Allegany County rigs.

Starting off with the closest to Keyser.

McCoole, MD
McCoole VFD
Squad 23
2006 Pierce Enforcer heavy rescue (Thanks Warren for the info!)

Interesting note:  The unique paint scheme of McCoole's Squad 23, Engine/Rescue 23, Brush 23 and former Engine 231 was designed purposely with the colours of the Maryland State Flag, a very cool and interesting paint job!

Photo taken by my mother after visiting me in Keyser.

[Engine33Truck]

A photo I took of Squad 23 at about 0130 in January on a bad single vehicle MVA a few weeks before the previous picture, just before I went over the side of the hill.  That roller light on the right front of the truck was out for about a month.

[Engine33Truck]

Next is Westernport, MD.  I took these after missing the truck for a structure fire at around 530 in April.

Westernport, MD
Potomac VFC
Engine/Tanker 22
2003 KME Panther 8-man cab
1250/1500

[Engine33Truck]

22 Crew just before leaving around 900, them, myself, and another guy stayed in station for 4 hours while about 35 firefighters were on scene.  Our old whale is in the background.

[brucobuff]

The Luke VFC was formed as protection of the small town which grew up beside the large Paper mill that was begun there in 1888. By 1908, the plant had become a major employer in southern Allegany Co., and adjoining West VA.
In 1917, the vfc was formed and apparently used hand equipment until the 1930's, when a small pumper was obtained. Anyone identify the chassis?
In 1965, this Chevy S-tilt cab with a 750/500 Howe body served until 1983, it may have then been transferred to another paper mill. I have never been able to find a driver side photo of this rig.
Unknown photographer, my collection
Fleet photo from 1970's, this and top photo were copied from a 1976 Bicentennial history book, writing is mine.
In 1959, the local school was abandoned and given to the town as a municipal building. 2 bays were built on the front for the apparatus, later another bay was added at the side. This was replaced in the early 1980's and the apparatus moved onto plant property. WW Jenkins photo,2005
Today the town population is down to about 100 persons, many homes have been abandoned, some assistance has been received to tear these down.The future of the mill itself is constantly in question, another sad commentary on this country' slow decline as an industrial giant.

[brucobuff]

RS 23 is a 2006

[brucobuff]

Westernport, MD
Potomac VFC
Engine/Tanker 22
2002 KME Excel 8-man cab
1250/1500
[/quote]
One of my favorite posed photos, also got a ride in this, courtesy of Deputy Chief Bill Kight.
2005 photo by Warren W. Jenkins

[Engine33Truck]

Thanks for posting these!  I always thought that the plant was built around the same time they bought and cleared Beryl (though there must still be some houses in what was Beryl as I've heard Sta. 50 and Sta. 4 (Elk Garden EMS) get called there.  And thanks for the update on Squad 23.  Hopefully sometime soon I'll be able to get good photos of her and E/R 23.  On a side note, do you have any pictures of the 99 Lance 2000 Engine 231 (or Engine 23-11, whichever) alone?  I've heard from everywhere that her and Engine/Rescue 23 are twins but I don't see how they can be twins.  While I'm on that topic, you stated before that in 86, McCoole bought a fleet of custom Lances, was one and Engine/Rescue or is the current one the first? 

Thanks for the photo of Engine/Tanker 22!  Billy Kight is a great guy!   When they came to Keyser for a standby in April, they decided to go get coffee and offered to let me and the other guy that missed the trucks come with them.  Naturally, we did and ran to Sheetz lol.  E/T 22 is a really nice truck! The only trouble with her (at least in Keyser) is that they also use a weird type of thread, which isn't necessarily compatable with Keyser's (B&O, aka Pittsburgh No. 9?) weird thread.  So they came up with the plan that they had to either knock it down with the first 1,500 gallons, or talk me or the other guy to drive 33-20 (neither of us could really drive a manual that you had to double clutch....especially not one as finicky as 33-20's tranny)

[brucobuff]

In the early 1970's, McCoole VFD in southern Allegany Co. had one of the oldest fleets in the county, 3 pieces were 1940's vintage, and even the tanker with a 1964 Ford C chassis had a converted 1941 squad body. Their white/blue paint scheme was unique back then.
The 1st due engine was a rugged Available/Oren 500/500 with 2 reels of 1.5" hose.
The members were able to purchase 2 units in 1974, a Dodge D-600 chassis was obtained and sent to J&J Bodies in nearby Somerset Co.PA. which built a 500/1000 engine tanker. This replaced a 1940 IH engine and a 1949 GMC tanker (which was built by the B&0 RR shops in Keyser,WV, just across the Potomac River). A Dodge van with a small box body was also obtained, replacing a 1960 Chevy step van .
1949 Available/Oren; slide by Joel Woods, my collection
1964 Ford C-750/1941 Brumbaugh? 250/1000, converted in 1964 from former Westernport,MD. squad. R. Kimball photo, my collection
1974 Dodge/J&J Bodies, slide by Joel Woods, my collection
1974 Dodge equipment van, slide by Joel Woods, my collection

[Engine33Truck]

Thanks for posting these, Tanker 23 is a really interesting rig! 

[brucobuff]

Thanks for posting these, Tanker 23 is a really interesting rig! 

Ah, but in those pre 911 days it was known as just "Tank Truck #2" it was OOS by 1980, when Allegany Co. was 1st renumbered. If it would have been, it's # would be 23-21, as the 74 Dodge became 23-20.

[brucobuff]

McCoole made 3 apparatus purchases from 1979-1982 to further upgrade the fleet.
A 1979 Ford C-8000/Pierce 1000/1000 was delivered in 1/1980, replaced the 49 Oren which was taken OOS until 1986, when it was virtually given to the new Allegany Co. #47,Rawlings,VFC. It was left outside to rot.
This was: 1st top-mount pump panel in co., 1st white/yellow rig, and 1st diesel(weak Caterpillar 3208). served about 10 yrs., then went to Burlington,WV.
A 1979 Ford F-250 4X4  with a 45/200 skid unit was also obtained in 1980, about 1992 it went to Corriganville,MD.
A big purchase in 1982 was a new Chevy K-30 4x4/Pierce rescue, one of the 1st extrication units in that area. (E33T, this is when they started doing rescues in Keyser) This rig lasted 10 yrs., and endured a lot of runs.
79 Ford/Pierce photos by J. Atkinson and S. Ryan
79 Ford brush photo by J. Atkinson
82 Chevy/Pierce photo by S.Ryan

[X Chief 1]

Replying to "reply #4", your chassis is a 1934 Ford
Dan E. Boyd

[brucobuff]

Replying to "reply #4", your chassis is a 1934 Ford
Dan E. Boyd

Thank you, I have updated my records.
Warren W. Jenkins

[brucobuff]

Besides building a new station in 1984, MVFC also got a 1984 Jeep CJ8 that had 150/80.