West Chester - Fame FC# 3
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Chester County Station 53
Serving as one of three volunteer companies comprising the West Chester Fire Department, Fame Fire Co# 3 provides Fire and Technical Rescue services to the Borough of West Chester, Thornbury Township and and portions of Birmingham, East Bradford, West Goshen, and Westtown townships. Operating as the dedicated truck and heavy rescue for the West Chester Fire Department, they also operate as the lead company for the Chester County Rescue Task Force handling swift water, trench and collapse rescue operations. Established in 1838, Fame has proudly preserved much of their 175+ year history including an 1884 Silsby hand drawn hose reel which is proudly displayed in the “Hall
of Flame” Museum located in the rear of their firehouse.
Engine 53 (Retired) - 2000 E-One/Saulsbury 2750 gpm/750 gal./50B/30A
Replaced with a 2021 Spartan Metrostar/CustomFire 2250/750/30B engine, this rig was formerly assigned to respond second due on on all structure fires/vehicle accidents within the West Chester Fire Department response territory. Seating eight (five with SCBA), it featured a 15KW generator and 2,000 GPM remote control deck gun. It was outfitted with two 200’ 1-3/4” pre-connects, two 200’ 2-1/2” “blitz” lines, a 300' "triple pack", 500 feet of 3” supply line
and 2,000 feet of 5” LDH. In addition, it also carried two high-rise packs, a PPV fan, saws and gas/CO detectors.
Tanker 53 (Retired) - 1990 Autocar/4 Guys 1000 gpm/3000 gal.
Originally assigned to Fame Fire Co# 3, it formerly was assigned second due for all structure fires outside the Borough of West Chester as well as for all Hazmat incidents involving structures or automobile accidents within the West Chester Fire Department response territory due to its’ foam capabilities (180 gallons of Universal Class B foam). It was transferred to the Good Will Fire Co# 2 of West Chester where it retained its' original color scheme and ran second due in Thornbury Township as Tanker 52 until it was replaced with a 2016 Peterbilt 348/4 Guys
1250/3000 tanker. It was equipped with a Feecon® around the pump foam system, a 10” Newton electric dump valve (90 second tank off load), 1,000 GPM rated deck gun, a 3,500 gallon folding tank, assorted foam adapters and appliances, two 200’ 1-3/4” attack lines, one 200’ 2-1/2”
“blitz” line and 300’ of
3” supply line.
Ladder 53 (Retired) - 1992 Emergency One 110'
Replaced with a 2012 Emergency One 137' rear mount ladder, this rig was assigned as the first out apparatus for all structure fires and technical rescues within the West Chester Fire Department response territory. Equipped with seating for six firefighters (five with SCBA), it had pre-assigned riding positions utilized for rapid deployment of the famed “Ladder Split” team approach used the by Fame Fire Co.
Squad 53 - 2004 Ford F-350/Pierce
Assigned first due for all water rescues within the West Chester FD's response territory, it also responds to all structure fires and auto accidents as a personnel transport and support piece. Equipped with seating for five firefighters, it features a 10 KW gas generator, Hurst® electric power unit and combi-tool, two SCBA, forcible entry tools and a full complement of water rescue equipment (two cold water suits, two dry suits and six sets of personal water rescue equipment). Squad 53 responds with Boat 53-1, a 14’ FSI rigid inflatable with a 30 HP Mercury® outboard motor.
Trench 53 (TRT 53-2) - 20' American Hauler
Funded by the Southeast Pennsylvania Regional Task Force, TRT 53-2 is part of the Chester County Rescue Task Force responding to all structural collapse and trench/excavation/below grade incidents. Its' equipment complement includes eight shoring panels, ground pads, plywood sheets, dimensional lumber (2x4, 2x6, 4x4 and 6x6), hand tools/buckets, a miter saw, ventilation fan and ducting. It also carries a grain rescue tube for incidents where a victim may be engulfed in some form of loose, flowing material
(grain, sand and/or loose soil).