Downingtown - Alert FC# 1
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Established in 1887 with the motto "The Danger of our Citizens Prompts Us to Action", Alert Fire Co# 1 holds the distinction of being the ninth oldest fire company in Chester County. In true fire service fashion, when their first ladder truck was delivered in December of 1887, the company caught their very first working fire the next night!! Alert’s volunteers provide Fire and Technical Rescue protection to the Borough of Downingtown and East Caln in conjunction with Minquas Fire Co# 2.
Engine 45 - 1998 Spartan/RD Murray 2,000 gpm/700 gal./30A & B foam
This rig replaced a 1969 Mack CF 1250/300 engine affectionately known as “The Yellow Bird” which was the first yellow fire truck in Chester County. Featuring an eight man cab and a 7.5 KW generator, it is equipped with 1,700' of attack line (1-3/4" and 2-1/2"), 400’ of 3” supply line and 2,000’ of 5” LDH as well as two portable 1,250 GPM monitors.
Engine 45 (Retired) - 1969 Mack CF-600 1250 gpm/300 gal.
Affectionately known as “The Yellow Bird” having been the first yellow fire truck in Chester County, it features the fiberglass front that was the standard on the Mack CF model between 1968-1969 when first introduced (it was later replaced by the more recognizable - and popular - metal front grille).
Brush 45 - 2000 Ford F-350 Super Duty/Darley 360 gpm/170 gal./10 gal. A foam
Awarded Best Appearing Brush Truck at the 2011 and 2013 PA State Fireman’s Parade, it features four wheel drive, a custom Darley® skid unit and a 2,000 watt generator powering 1,000 watts of scene lighting. It is equipped with 150’ of 1-3/4” attack line as well as 100’ each of 1” hard line and forestry hose, “Indian Cans” (backpack pumps) and wildland hand tools.
Tower 45 - 2013 Emergency One HP-95 Cyclone II 95’/2000 gpm/130 gal.
Having replaced a 1997 Spartan/LTI 100’/1500 gpm rear mount ladder tower, this rig features a 1,305 lb. rated platform with 1,250 gpm remote control monitor and an 88’ horizontal reach. Seating six with SCBA, it is equipped with a 200’ 1-3/4” pre-connect, high rise hose packs, 240’ of ground ladders, two thermal imagers and intrinsically safe PPV fans. In addition, it also carries high/low angle rope rescue gear and a Hurst® e-Draulic battery powered combi-tool.
Rescue 45 - 2006 Pierce Lance
Measuring 42' long, Rescue 45 features an extended four door cab with 22" raised roof, rear air ride suspension mounted on a heavy duty tandem axle chassis and a 25' 6" stainless steel rescue body with deep roof storage compartments and eleven walk-around compartments with cab operated electric roll-up doors. The partial walk-in body has seating for four and features a Command Post with two independent computer and communication work stations (three high-band/800 MHz radios at each console), cellular phones, a 21" LCD flat panel monitor for viewing computer info, weather stations or images from the Video Observation System mounted on a 25' telescoping mast, under-counter refrigerator and an EMS compartment. The Command Area, located in the crew cab has seating for five and has connectivity with the Command Post via intercom, radio, wireless LAN and two 15” LCD flat panel monitors.
Rescue 45 is outfitted with both a 40kw PTO and 15kw hydraulic generator powering four 200' electric cord reels, twelve 900 watt quartz lights and a 25' light mast with six 900 watt quartz lights.In addition, it features a Warn® 9,000 lb. portable winch with receivers on all four sides, two 150' low pressure air reels and a 16.7 CFM tool air compressor.
It is equipped with a complete Hurst® hydraulic extrication tool system, consisting of eight pre-connected reels (front and mid-body), three Hurst® Trimo power units and a Hurst® Simo power unit. It carries seven SCBA, a 496 ton high-lift air bag system,
low pressure air bag system, Paratech® rescue strut system with a capacity to span or support 68' and high lift jacks. In addition, it also carries a thermal imager, multi-gas meters, salvage and overhaul equipment, portable air cart, ropes/harnesses/rigging
for high angle and confined space rescue, haz-mat equipment, water and ice rescue suits/gear and is AED equipped.
Due to its’ impressive design and equipment cache, Rescue 45 has won many awards at the annual Pennsylvania State Firemen’s Association Parade including Best Appearing and Equipped Heavy Rescue (2007, 2009 and 2013), Best Appearing Pierce Apparatus (2009) and Best in Show - President's Cup (2013).
Squad 45 - 1999 Chevrolet Suburban
Used for personnel transport, it tows a custom Rescue One® double stack trailer carrying the company’s two water rescue craft. The trailer features walk-around decking, equipment storage compartments, two 25HP Mercury propeller style motors (for Boat 45-2 and a dedicated spare), emergency and scene lighting as well as rope, webbing and hardware for a line system.
Boat 45-1 - 2008 Rescue One Connector 16’ Aluminum Flat Bottom
Outfitted with a 40 HP four stroke Mercury jet style motor, it features a bow dive/rescue platform, center console mounted high band/marine/weather radios, depth finder and a stern mounted lightbar with eight fixed and oscillating LED search lights.
It is equipped with PFD’s (rescuer and victim), throw bags, rope, telescoping marine hooks and a flare gun kit.
Boat 45-2 - 2004 FSI North America - 14’ Inflatable
With a rescue complement closely mirroring Boat 45-1, it also carries assorted portable equipment including a marine/weather radio, waterproof lights and watertight radio bags.