Engine 733, “Union Street Express” - 2009 Pierce Velocity 2000 gpm/1000 gal./30A

A twin to Engine 732 delivered in 2008, Engine 733 is equipped with a 9,000 watt light tower, Hurst rescue tools, three 1-3/4” & one 2-1/2” speedlay as well as a 1,500 gallon folding tank. When Hose Co. 2 originally spec’d the silver over maroon paint scheme on their 1985 American LaFrance, they were told that “they were nuts, fire trucks are supposed to be red, no one will ever accept a truck painted this color”.  Twenty four years (and eight rigs) later, their apparatus are still painted in this striking color with Silver upper cabs becoming more commonplace among the multi-colored paint schemes found on many apparatus today.

On September 12th, 2007 a malfunction in the former Engine 733,  a 1994 American LaFrance Patriot, caused a fire that destroyed Hose Co. Two’s firehouse and entire apparatus fleet of two engines and a spill response trailer. After rebuilding their firehouse during which time they used both donated and loaner apparatus, the company decided to order two new Pierce engines thus ending a 47 year relationship with American LaFrance. In memory of the horrific losses that day (and the tremendous re-birth of the company since then), “ALF” adorns the side of the new Engine 733 as a reminder of the past.

On a positive note, the members of Hose Co. 2 in doing much of the rebuilding work themselves saved a considerable amount of money which was then put into an alarm and sprinkler system to protect the “new” firehouse. Their foresight is a prime example of learning from the past while “practicing what you preach” with regard to fire safety and prevention.

Special thanks to Chief Engineer Chad Hasenauer for providing the specs on Engine 733 & the story behind “ALF”.

Copyright 2009 Tom Rinelli