Gerrittsen Beach Fire Department
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Celebrating 100 years of service to the community in 2022, the Gerrittsen Beach FD was organized following the disbanding of a bucket brigade known as the Pioneer Hose Company that was originally established in 1921. Present day, it operates as the only remaining volunteer fire department in the New York City Borough of Brooklyn. Serving a densely populated residential and commercial area located on a peninsula with narrow streets, twenty volunteers answer an average of 450 alarms providing Fire, Rescue and BLS level EMS protection.
With their original firehouse located down the street from the memorial hall, this firehouse was built as a single bay and later doubled in size in 1944. Gerrittsen Beach operates their entire fleet from this two bay firehouse. Meetings, training and social events are held in the memorial hall across the street which was the original firehouse until 1993 when land for the current firehouse was donated. The pull box seen on the front of the firehouse is not actually a fire alarm box - members are notified of alarms by pagers/text messaging with the first arriving member activating the pull box to manually sound the house siren as a back-up. GBFD's facilities has been undergoing renovation since 2021 with the interior of the firehouse being painted as well as the installation of a new 29' tall antenna tower with a Federal Signal® directional speaker array to replace their 60+ year old house siren while the memorial hall has been outfitted with 54 solar panels through a storm recovery grant.
Engine 1 - 2001 HME 1871-SFO 4x4/Darley 1000 gpm/500 gal./CAFS
Having operated a brand new 1925 LaFrance-Brockway Torpedo as their first motorized apparatus, this rig acts as GBFD’s primary response fire apparatus. Featuring four wheel drive coupled with a 30’ short wheelbase designed to fit into the tight streets of their response area, it was heavily damaged in 2012 after driving through floodwaters over four feet deep during Hurricane Sandy which required the entire rig to be completely rewired by Darley. Seating six (three with SCBA), it is equipped with two additional SCBA, a CO meter, “Indian Cans” (for brush fires) and a ProPak® foam pack. For rescue operations, it carries a Power Hawk® battery operated extrication tool and two rams (to begin initial extrication prior to the arrival of an FDNY ladder, squad or rescue company), BLS gear including an AED, backboard, Stokes basket, SKED® stretcher and water rescue equipment. GBFD will be expanding its' firefighting fleet with the addition of a 2023 Ford F-550/Darley WASP series mini-pumper complete with a 1,500 gpm pump and four door crew cab.
Ambulance 4 - 2019 Ford F-350/AEV
Operating as “93-Charlie” in the FDNY*EMS Community Based EMS radio system (the volunteer EMS agencies operating within New York City), this BLS equipped rig is dedicated in memory of "Jerry D29" who was a supporter of the department. Advanced life support level care is provided by career FDNY*EMS paramedics operating out of the Coney Island EMS station.
Ambulance 3 - 2003 Ford/MedTec Type III
Now serving in second due status, this BLS equipped rig was provided through funding by Senator Marty Golden. In the event it operates in the FDNY*EMS Community Based EMS radio system simultaneously with Ambulance 4, it assumes the identifier of "93-Charlie-2".
