Lambertville Fire District# 1
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Established in 2014 as Fire District# 1 through the merger of four independent fire companies organized in the 1800's, this combination department serves the City of Lambertville. Staffed with 12 career and 10 volunteer members (including three career members Monday-Friday from 08:00-18:00), Lambertville provides Fire, EMS and Technical Rescue protection answering an average of 250 alarms.
The four independent volunteer fire companies that formerly served Lambertville operated from their individual 1800's era firehouses until they were merged into the Lambertville Fire District# 1 in 2014. Present day, this firehouse serves as headquarters housing the entire fleet as well as the classic 1923 Ahrens Fox piston pumper which is maintained by the former Union Fire Co. All four former firehouses are currently still in existence being operated in other capacities.
Created by an artist from New England, this sculpture was created using the cab of a 1960-70's era International cab fire engine (which did not serve Lambertville). It was due to be sent out to be revamped following my visit in 2018.
Squrt 17 (Retired) - 1991 Pierce Lance 54'/2000 gpm/800 gal./50A foam
Nicknamed "Sampson", Squrt 17 was acquired in January 2017 from the nearby Prospect Heights Fire Co. after which it received a complete in-house rehab performed by the members (with the only exception being paint, vinyl and tires). Over a four month period, LED emergency lighting, Mars® warning lights and a custom headliner were installed along with the bus style mirrors changed to regular style. It served until 2021 assigned to respond first due (with the exception of motor vehicle accidents) when both it and Rescue 17 were traded in a two-for-one deal with an apparatus broker in exchange for a 2013 Pierce Velocity PUC rescue pumper that offered many advantages over the existing rescue (see Rescue 17's profile below for more details on this new rig).
Seating five (four with SCBA), it was equipped with a bumper line, three 200' pre-connects (two 2", one 2-1/2"), a rear 400' 1-3/4" attack line and 300' of 2-1/2" attack line on top of a 300' dead lay. A pre-connected 3" Blitzfire® portable monitor (with remote control), 1,200' of 5" LDH supply line and high expansion foam capabilities rounded out its' firefighting equipment complement. In addition,
it was outfitted with a Holmatro® combi-tool and JunkyardDog® struts.
Tower 17 ("Goliath") - 2014 Pierce Velocity 100'/2000 gpm/300 gal.
Assigned as part of the Hunterdon County Technical Rescue Taskforce, Tower 17 is outfitted with equipment for all technical rescue disciplines. It is outfitted with three pre-connects (two 200' 2", one 300' 2-1/2"),
a rear 400' 1-3/4" attack line, 300' of 2-1/2" attack line on top of a 300' dead lay and 1,200' of 5" LDH supply line.
Rescue 17 (Retired) - 2012 Pierce Arrow XT PUC 1500 gpm/750 gal./25A foam
Known as "Atlas", it formerly responded first due to motor vehicle accidents and was outfitted for all disciplines of technical rescue. In 2021, it was traded along with Squrt 17 to an apparatus broker in exchange for a 2013 Pierce Velocity PUC rescue pumper. This rig offered several advantages with additional compartment space, scene lighting, two pre-connected bumper mounted reels for extrication tools and a 100' pre-connect hoseline.
Formerly serving the West County EMS & Fire Department in Missouri where it was painted Blue-over Red, it was repainted by the broker in Lambertsville's color scheme.
While assigned to Lambertville, its' equipment complement included a complete set of Holmatro® extrication tools (spreader, cutter and combi) with a portable power unit, a large cache of color coded wooden cribbing (2x4,4x4 and 6x6),
auto leveling stepchocks, air/battery powered tools (reciprocating saw, chisel, impact wrench) and a Paratech® air bag kit. In addition, it carried two 7,500 lb. SidewinderTM rams, Paratech® 36" and 58" rescue struts, a 3 ton come-along,
"Man-in-Machine" kit and confined space entry/communication/air kits. For firefighting, it featured a Compressed Air Foam System, forestry hose, 1,100' of 5" LDH supply line and rotary/chain saws.
Special Service 17 - 2016 Ford F550/Pierce
This rig provides support equipment for technical rescue including water/ice and dive as well as trench and confined space operations. It is equipped with five SCBA, a 7500 kw portable generator, five portable electric pumps with hose, high expansion foam generator, AFFF foam and haz-mat mitigation supplies.
Antique - 1923 Ahrens Fox
Painted in a striking Cream over Red color scheme, it is maintained in pristine condition by members of the former Union Fire Co. alongside artifacts preserved from the company's past.