Rotterdam District 2
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Organized in 1955 as the result of a merger of the Beverly Hose and Edgewood Hose Companies established in 1934, present day the company operates as one of eight districts serving the Town of Rotterdam. Serving a four square mile area of the North portion of the Town of Rotterdam, forty three volunteers provide Fire and Rescue protection answering 300 alarms annually.
Originally constructed in 1950 with three single bay doors, the present day firehouse has had several additions to accommodate the expanding size of the fleet. An extension in 1971 to the east side modified the bay doors to one double wide and one single as well as adding an ambulance bay, rec room and officers room. A 1989 addition to the west side allowed all apparatus to face forward after many years of stacking rigs while an upgrade in 2019 added glass bay doors giving the firehouse quite a different look than shown here. While many firehouses are home to mascots such as dogs and cats, Rotterdam District 2 has some
unyque "residents" - pigeons! Despite numerous efforts to rid the firehouse of them, they maintain their residence (as evidenced by the feathers on the bay floor!).
Engine 121 - 2003 Pierce Quantum 1500 gpm/750 gal.
Responding first due to structure fires and fire alarms, it is outfitted with a 100' 1-3/4" bumper line, two 200' 1-3/4" pre-connects, a 200' pre-connected Blitzfire portable monitor (stored under a protective cover of the side of the pump panel), 800' of bed mounted attack line (300' 1-3/4", 500' 2-1/2") and 1,000' of 4" LDH supply line. Engine 121 is also outfitted with pet oxygen masks which were used successfully (two weeks after my visit in 2018) to resuscitate several animals from a house fire.
Engine 123 - 2010 Pierce Velocity PUC 1500 gpm/500 gal.
Originally operated as a rescue engine, this rig now responds as a standard engine assigned to respond first due to wires down, haz-mat and carbon monoxide alarms. In addition, it responds second due to structure fires and fire alarms. Outfitted with five SCBA and a battery powered combi tool, it is also assigned for RIT response within the Town of Rotterdam's seven other fire districts.
Engine 124 (Retired) - 1997 Pierce Saber 1500 gpm/750 gal.
Replaced with a 2019 Pierce Velocity painted Charcoal Grey over Red, this rig now serves the Wampum VFD in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania. It was formerly assigned as the primary rig for mutual aid (with the exception of RIT) as well as responding first due to car and brush fires.
Engine 125 - 2001 Ford F-550/Boise Mobile Equipment 500 gpm/250 gal.
This rig is assigned for mutual aid RIT response to numerous communities outside the Town of Rotterdam including neighboring Albany County. Accordingly, it is equipped with five SCBA (two in rear body mounted brackets with protective covers), large area search bag, a pre-rigged belay system, Stokes basket/SKEDTM stretcher, rotary and chain saws, a thermal imager and Scott® Pak-Tracker for locating downed firefighters. In addition, it is outfitted with two 200' 1-3/4" pre-connects, 500' of 2-1/2" attack line in the rear bed and 25' of 4" LDH (rolled). In addition to RIT response, it is also assigned for rope rescue, brush fires and wires down calls.
Rescue 122 - 1992 Pierce Lance
Having replaced a 1966 Ford C/Gerstenslager walk-in style rescue, this rig seats eight (seven with SCBA) and features a reverse walk-in style body (complete with a command post) accessible only from the crew cab. Assigned first due for motor vehicle accidents and rope rescue calls, it is equipped with a Hurst® pre-connected spreader, cutter and mini cutter, airbags (20 and 26 ton), Paratech® rescue struts, auto adjusting stepchocks (regular/large) and rope rescue gear. In addition, it also carries a dewatering pump, 24 spare SCBA cylinders and BLS medical gear.
