Organized in 1928, West Hamilton Beach protects a 1.8 mile square area encompassing the West Hamilton Beach, Rockwood & Howard Beach

neighborhoods in the NYC Borough of Queens. As one of the nine remaining volunteer fire departments operating within the confines of New York City, WHBFD is the only department that operates on a parkway covering a stretch of the Belt Parkway from Cross Bay Blvd. extending to the Pennsylvania Avenue exit in the Spring Creek section of Brooklyn. Twenty two active  volunteers provide Fire, Rescue & BLS level EMS protection answering an average of 850 alarms annually.

Ambulance 947 - 2006 Ford E-350/Wheeled Coach

One of three ambulances operated by West Hamilton Beach, this rig features a back-up camera & 15” flip down screen with DVD player mounted in the patient compartment. Certified for basic life support transport, it is equipped with a set of “irons” for forcible entry/”door pops” as well as a 50’ throw bag. Plans for a new ambulance include carrying a Hurst tool as well. ALS is provided by career FDNY*EMS paramedics assigned to the nearby Rockaway station.  

Brush Fire Unit 946 - 1977 Dodge/Pierce 300 gpm/250 gal.

Originally serving Central Islip (LI, NY), this rig is equipped with 200’ of 1-3/4” hose,

350’ of LDH supply line and two SCBA. 

Engine 946 - 1984 American LaFrance Century 2000 1500 gpm/500 gal.

Formerly serving Iselin (NJ), this rig entered service in 2010 and features a 15kw generator, Mars mechanical siren, On-Spot chains & an on-board exhaust capture system. Operating as a squad company, it is equipped with two 200’ crosslays, high rise hose packs, 46’ of ground ladders, assorted ventilation saws (K-12, chain), a thermal imager, Stokes basket, sawzall and a full set of Hurst extrication tools. West Hamilton Beach also operates a 1978/2000 Mack CF-600 (ex-FDNY Engine 310) that is similarly equipped. 

West Hamilton Beach’s latest project, this former FDNY rig operated as “Squad 800”, a dedicated spare for the squad companies. It began life as a 1994 Seagrave 1000/500 engine assigned to Engine 66 in the Bronx before being retired in 2003 after which it operated in the spare pool before being rehabbed by Texron in 2005 with this modified body to carry the squad company’s tools.

West Hamilton Beach operates their entire fleet from this four bay firehouse including two engines and three ambulances. The brush fire unit is kept in an ancillary building located behind the firehouse.

MAYDAY!! MAYDAY!! MAYDAY!! - the West Hamilton Beach VFD suffered catastrophic losses during Hurricane Sandy including their entire apparatus fleet (2 engines, brush truck,    2 ambulances & the spare rig that was due to be refurbished) as well as most of their equipment. Any dept. wishing to donate apparatus or equipment can contact Vice President John Abouricheh at the firehouse (718-843-1716). Thanks in advance to all the brothers willing to help the WHBVFD.