Glen Gardner Fire Co.
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The present day community of Glen Gardner was known by several names over the years until 1871 when it was named in honor of the Gardner Brothers who operated a chair and frame factory that employed most of the townspeople. Following an oil fire caused by a passing railroad car that destroyed several buildings in 1901, a bucket brigade was organized in 1902 by the Patriot Sons of America which served the community until 1922 after which the Glen Gardner Fire Co. was formed in 1923. Serving a 3.2 mile square mile first due response area including the Borough of Glen Gardner as well as a section of Bethlehem Township, the company's 24 active volunteers provide Fire and Rescue protection answering 150 alarms annually. A unique feature of the company is that since their formation in 1923, they operated with "runners" who as youth ages 16 to 21 assisted the company until being reorganized in 1973 as junior firefighters allowing those ages 16 to 18 to join the fire company - the juniors first project was building the company's first brush truck in 1974 using a 1945 government surplus Dodge Power Wagon.
Hunterdon County Station 12
The original firehouse built in 1923 was a one stall barn on Main Street that housed the company's original Model T apparatus. Additions followed in 1953 and 1954 while a second story was installed in 1979. In 1999, with the need for a new firehouse, a three bay double deep pre-fabricated structure was built and dedicated 2002. Present day, it houses Glen Gardner's entire apparatus fleet as well as a career staffed medic response unit from Hunterdon Medical Center.
Engine 12 - 2002 Pierce Dash 2250 gpm/1000 gal.
Designed to move "Big Water", this rig received a major upgrade in 2021 featuring an overhaul of the pump with a second LDH discharge installed, new LED warning/scene lighting, new suspension and the addition of both EMS compartments in the cab as well as upper storage compartments complete with custom artwork (see photo below for more details). Outfitted with dual LDH discharges, this proven workhorse has pulled 3,000 gpm at draft - set up for moving large volumes of water on the fireground, it is equipped with 88' of hard suction (including four 10' and 12' sleeves), three low level TFT® strainers, various adapters ranging from 3/4" to 6" diameter and a 750 gpm portable pump adapted to 6" complete with 20' of 2-1/2" supply
line (due to be upgraded to 4" LDH). Its' hose complement includes bumper mounted 150'/200' 1-3/4" pre-connects plumbed to a water thief, 200'/300' 1-3/4" pre-connects and 200' of 2-1/2" pre-connected to a Blitzfire® portable monitor. The rear hose bed
carries 1-3/4" and 2-1/2" attack lines, 500' of 3" and 1,800' of 5" LDH supply line. In addition, it is outfitted with a Holmatro® hydraulic powered 6" cutter and combi-tool, auto leveling step chocks, a battery powered cut-off saw, seven SCBA (five seat mounted),
two 1-3/4" high rise hose packs and high rise kit with fittings/adapters as well as various short length supply lines (three 25', two 35' pony, one 15' and a 50' leader). This rig is dedicated to the memory of Alton R. Stevens who upon his passing in 2003 was the company's longest serving member with 56 years of service including as Fire Chief and President, his family legacy spans four generations serving among the ranks of Glen Gardner's membership.
"The Battleship Of The Borough"
When Engine 12 was sent to Pierce in 2021 for a major upgrade, upper level storage compartments were added to which the company decided to have a memorial to the Battleship USS New Jersey added. This rig due to its' proven performance moving "Big Water" had always been referred to by the members of the company as "The Battleship" or simply as "62" under the previous county numbering system where it was designated as Engine 12-62. Coincidentally, the USS New Jersey was assigned the numerical designator "BB-62". While designated to be built in the Philadelphia Navy Yard, the name "New Jersey" was chosen to honor
the home state of then acting Secretary of the Navy Charles Edison (son of the famed inventor Thomas Edison) with this being the second warship named to honor the State of New Jersey.
An Iowa class battleship, the USS New Jersey was among the last class of American battleships built, and the last battleships in service in the world. As the largest, longest and fastest of all American battleships, they were developed to compete with the faster carriers employed during World War II and served over a longer
period than any other battleships, from 1943 until 1992. All four Iowa-class battleships served in World War II, the Korean War, and the Cold War while some fought in the Gulf War. Only the USS New Jersey served in the Vietnam War, the conflict in Lebanon and in the Persian Gulf. To counter the Soviet military and naval
expansion, the New Jersey led her three sister Iowa class battleships into the Missile Age, adding cruise missiles, anti-ship missiles, and anti-missile weapons to their massive 16-inch guns and numerous 5-inch guns, making them the most formidable surface warships ever put to sea by the Navy. They were also the only
ships for which nuclear projectiles were designed.
No Iowa-class battleship gave more distinguished service than the USS New Jersey. In World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Lebanon, and the Persian Gulf, the New Jersey earned a total of 19 Battle and Campaign stars, making her the most decorated battleship in American history, the most of any surviving U.S. Navy ship, and the
second-most decorated ship in American history (the carrier USS Enterprise CV-6, which the New Jersey frequently escorted, earned 20 battle stars in World War II but sadly was scrapped after the war). The New Jersey also received a Naval Unit Commendation for her service in Vietnam, and Presidential Unit Citations from
the Republic of the Philippines and the Republic of Korea. The Guinness Book of World Records awarded USS New Jersey the title as the fastest battleship in history.
The New Jersey rendered more active service than any other Iowa-class ship. Launched on the first anniversary of Pearl Harbor, she fought in World War II, was the first battleship reactivated for the Korean War, the only battleship to serve in the Vietnam War, and the first battleship reactivated to end the Cold War. The USS
New Jersey was in active service for over 21-1/2 years – 2-1/2 years more than the USS Iowa, 5 years more than the USS Missouri, and 8-1/2 years more than the USS Wisconsin. For several years – more than her three sister ships combined – she was the world’s only operational battleship. Furthermore, it was the only battleship
to serve as a flagship for both admirals who commanded the naval fleet during WWII and it engaged in more shore bombardment than the other Iowa-class battleships.
With the design of the Iowa class battleship beginning in 1938, the contract was awarded for both the Iowa (BB-61) and New Jersey (BB-62) in July of 1939 with World War breaking out in Europe two months later when Poland was invaded. Constructed in the Philadelphia Navy Yard at a cost of $100 million dollars (equivalent
to $1.8 billion present day), over 45,000 civilians (including many women known as "Rosey the Riveter") from 34 states were employed in the construction of this ultimate class battleship. It was launched December 7th, 1942 on the first anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor and served with distinction through World War II,
the Korean War and the Vietnam War and later served during the Cold War as part of President Reagan's 600 ship Navy designed to bolster America's response to the nuclear arms race. Throughout its' service, It steamed more miles, fought in more battles and fired more shells than any other US battleship in history!
Presently day, the USS New Jersey operates in the City of Camden as a highly interactive living history museum where it was berthed on September 23, 2001 and In 2004, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places and the New Jersey Register of Historic Places. She has been designated as the State Ship of New Jersey,
and is a member of the international Historic Naval Ship Association.
Squad 12 - 1989/2004 Pierce Lance 1500 gpm/750 gal./20A gal. foam
Originally delivered as a two door conventional cab engine, it was remounted by Pierce in 2004 to a custom Lance chassis with a crew cab seating six. Serving as an engine for many years, it was converted in-house for use as a rescue engine following the retirement of the company's former light rescue that was built in-house. Every available inch of storage space on this compact little rig (including the rear beavertail compartments) was utilized for maximum efficiency. For rescue operations, Squad 12 is outfitted
with Holmatro® hydraulic extrication tools (spreader, cutter, combi, pedal cutter and rams including a 51"), four "Sidewinder" lift jacks with two 1/2" impact drills for rapid deployment, a Paratech® rescue strut highway kit with the bases carried in the underbody,
a 10 ton porta-power, 5-1/4" circular saw, a 4-1/2" cut-off wheel, dremel and a portable band saw (one of only a few carried by rescues in Hunterdon County). In addition, it carries a crash kit, an Ajax® air chisel, straps kit, ratchets and a Stokes basket with backboards
and a scoop stretcher.
For firefighting, it is equipped with a bumper mounted gated wye supplying two pre-connects (100' 1-3/4" with piercing nozzle, 150' of 1-3/4"), 200' 1-3/4" and 2-1/2" pre-connects, 36' of hard suction sleeve (four 9' lengths), 500' each of 2-1/2" and 3" as well as 1,000' of
5" LDH supply line. In addition, it carries two 100' high rise hose packs, a 1,250 gpm remote control deck gun, RIT pack, 46' of ground ladders (including a 26' three section extension), a Little Giant® ladder as well as rotary and chain saws.
Reserve Engine 12-2 ("Odd Ball") - 1982 Pierce Arrow 1250 gpm/1000 gal.
Serving its' fourth career, this rig was acquired in late 2020 as a temporary piece while Engine 12 underwent a major overhaul at Pierce in 2021, however it was retained as a reserve apparatus due to its' performance. Originally serving in Pennsylvania, it operated as Linglestown Engine 35 (1982-2000), Reserve Engine 82 for Lower Paxton Township (2000-2010) and Newtown Engine 24-16 (2010-2020) until being acquired by Glen Gardner where it remains in service as Reserve
Engine-12-2 nicknamed "Odd Ball" among their fleet of Red/White apparatus. Featuring the original lightbars, it is outfitted with a 6kw diesel generator and a total of six SCBA (three seat mounted).
Tender 12 - 1993 Petebilt 357/Walker 750 gpm/3500 gal.
One of only 4 "Trailblazer" model tankers in New Jersey, it features a 750 gpm pump that was plumbed in-house by company members in 2020. Slated for a refurbishment including upgraded warning lights, this rig operates as part of both the Hunterdon and Warren County Tanker Task Force. It replaced the company's first tanker, a 1968 Diamond Reo with a 4,300 gallon capacity (one of the largest in the county) acquired in 1985 - it was later donated to a rural VFD in Iowa that
originally planned to purchase it when advertised for sale but could not afford it due to their limited funding.
Brush 12 ("Ridge Runner") - 2009 Ford F-450 Super Duty/Firematic B.R.A.T. 400 gpm/300 gal.
Acquired in 2022, this rig originally served as one of two units assigned to the Scale Mounds Fire Protection District in Illinois. Featuring a 4" lift with 36" tires, a 125 gpm remote controlled bumper monitor and 150' booster reel, it is outfitted for brush operations as well as to act as a manifold for accessing narrow residential driveways during structure fires. Accordingly, it is equipped with two SCBA with spare cylinders,
forestry gear and enough fittings to qualify it as a Class A engine! Its' hose load includes two 200' 1-3/4" crosslays (one pre-connected with a smooth bore nozzle, the other in a dead-load with a combination nozzle),
200' of 3/4" and 400' of 1" forestry hose, 200' of 2-1/2" carried in a dead-load, 400' of 3" supply line and 24' of 3" suction hose.
Utility 12 - 2004 Ford F350/Reading
Shown here while outfitted as Brush 12, it now serves as a utility support towing the UTV shown below. Featuring a 9' long utility body, it was formerly outfitted with a 350 gpm/250 gallon/10 gallon foam skid unit from the 1985 GMC shown below that previously served as Brush 12. It features flame graphics on the hood done in a Rhino® lining for added durability.
Gator 12 - 2006 Polaris Ranger 700/Gerry's Automotive 125 gpm/75 gal./5 gal. foam
Acquired in 2020 from the Manitou FD in Kentucky, it is outfitted with a high pressure hose reel, wildaland hand tools, chainsaw as well as a medical bag and break-apart Stokes basket.
Utility 12 ("Ridge Runner II" - Retired) - 1985 GMC High Sierra 2500
Originally purchased new in 1986, this rig was retired in 2023 and sold to a private owner with just 18,473 miles on the odometer after 37 years of active service! Outfitted with a skid mount unit, it operated as Brush 12-85 until 2004 when replaced with the Ford F-350/Reading/Darley shown above at which point it was assigned as Utility 12 until its' retirement in 2023. With regard to the color, the story goes that when picked up from a GMC dealership in Pennsylvania,
the members were told to pick between the Tan and Midnight Blue colors available on the in-stock units with the Tan being the chosen color!
Antique - 1941 Ford 500 gpm
Acquired through government surplus in 1946, it was sent to LM Hart of Hackettstown for the addition of compartments and lower skirting. Replaced with a 1962 GMC/Bruco 750 gpm pumper, it was sold to the Readington Fire Co. where it served into the late 1980's after which it was returned and restored in-house. Period correct equipment that was sourced and added for the town's anniversary celebration. As a testament to its' former military service, the
interior of the cab is still painted the original Olive Drab Green color!
Car 12 - 2018 Chevrolet SSV/First Priority Group
Acquired in 2019, this command unit featuring a custom conversion package replaced a 2005 Dodge Durango. A unyque feature of the unit it replaced was that it featured a Rhino® lining on the hood, bumpers and interior of the rear lift gate to protect against damage from command boards as well as the boots and high eagle fronts of traditional style helmets worn by command staff while operating at the command post.