Berwyn Heights VFD & RS
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Truck 14 (Retired) - 1991 Pemfab/LTI 106’ Tractor Drawn Aerial
Organized in 1919, the Berwyn Heights Vol. Fire Department and Rescue Squad is located five miles Northeast of Washington, D.C. inside the Capital Beltway. Protecting the communities of Berwyn Heights, College Park and Greenbelt, this combination department is staffed by Prince George's County career firefighters on weekdays from 0700-1500 with 120 volunteers (including live-ins) handling nights, weekends and holidays. Responding to over 5,000 alarms annually (including over 1,700 squad runs), Berwyn Heights VFD is known as "No Hose Nation" as they operate
strictly as a ladder, squad and technical rescue company.
Beginning in 1969 following the recommendation of a fire protection study commissioned by Prince George's County, Berywn Heights VFD retired their engine company and placed a 1968 Maxim 100' tiller into service as their first truck company beginning the tradition of "No Hose Nation".
The rig shown above was replaced in 2010 with a new Seagrave 100’ tiller after which it then served as Truck 25 with the Clinton VFD (also of Prince George's County). Sadly, due to severe rust on the trailer chassis, it was retired from service and scrapped in 2016. While assigned to Berwyn Heights,
Truck 14 responded to more than 700 alarms annually encompassing everything from single story homes to 18 story high rises.
Squad 14B - 2008 Seagrave/Marion
In 1945, the Berwyn Heights VFD and Rescue Squad established the first heavy duty rescue squad serving Prince George's County to respond for auto entrapments and downed pilots from the four military installations within 20 miles of their response area. In 2010, Berwyn Heights VFD was officially designated by PG County as a Technical Rescue Company further expanding their response capabilities to include high angle/confined space, swift water and trench/collapse rescue operations.
With over 60 miles of highways as well as multiple fire box assignments in their response area, this rig saw quite a bit of work. Formerly the primary squad apparatus, it was reassigned as Squad 14B with the arrival of a new 2021 Emergency One
Cyclone II two door tandem axle walk-in heavy rescue. Featuring seating for eight, it is outfitted with a front mount winch, portable winch receiver points and a four bottle cascade system with SpaceSaver fill station enclosure. Its' equipment complement includes two pre-connected Amkus® extrication tools, a portable power unit, air bags (including low pressure high lift), Paratech® rescue struts, DeWalt® cordless hand tools, an oxy-acetylene torch and Stihl® rotary/chain saws.
Rescue 5 (Retired) - 1999 Seagrave/Saulsbury
Originally serving the busy Berwyn Heights VFD in Prince George's County, Maryland this rig was involved in a roll-over collision in 2002 and was purchased by a gentleman in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania who took this on as a restoration project (he had never restored a fire truck before, let alone a damaged one). After successfully repairing it, the rig then entered service with Union Hose Co. in 2004 and served until 2020 when replaced with a new
Sutphen/Rescue 1 walk-around heavy rescue. Featuring a walk-in box, it was outfitted with a light tower and 6,000 PSI cascade system. Its' equipment complement included an Amkus® Ultimate Rescue System including three cutters,
two spreaders and three rams. It is slated to enter service with the Dale City VFD of Prince William County, Virginia as a tactical support unit after being refurbished including a new paint scheme of White with Forest Green accents.AnnvilleUnion Hose CoSeagraveSaulsburyHeavy RescueBerwyn HeightsRetired
Squad 14R (Retired) - 1990 Pemfab/Ranger
The predecessor to both the current Squad 14B and the retired Squad 14 shown above, this rig was retired in 2022 after having been maintained as an active reserve squad. Having replaced a 1968 GMC/Bruco that was assigned when Berwyn Heights transitioned to operating strictly as a truck/rescue company, this rig was originally moved to active reserve status in 1999 with the arrival of the Seagrave/Saulsbury shown above and later returned to active frontline service in 2002 when that rig was heavily damaged in the roll-over accident. It then served as the frontline apparatus of Squad 14 until 2008 when the current Squad 14B was received earning it the nickname "Memphis Belle" in honor of the famed WWII B-17 bomber that completed over 25 missions during its' career in the European theater of operations. In 2000, following the arrival of the new Squad 14 (1999 Seagrave/Saulsbury), Berwyn Heights retired a mini-pumper that had been acquired in 1976 officially ending any engine company apparatus at which point the popular moniker "No Hose Nation" was adopted. This rig is now privately owned by a life member of Berwyn Heights VFD.
With over 25 years of visiting firehouses across the country, this is by far one of the most "unyque" displays of professional pride I have ever seen/photographed. In response to the tremendous amount of extrications Squad 14 performs annually, the members began “procuring” manufacturer nameplates off the vehicles involved. Virtually every vehicle on the road is represented - the emblems of high end vehicles (Mercedes, Cadillac) are prominently displayed in the center of the boards along with those from particularly difficult extrications involving heavy duty trucks (Mack, Kenworth, White/GMC).
Even more proof of the tremendous number of extrications Berwyh Heights Squad 14 responds to on a regular basis - definitely a unyque show of pride!