Kinzer Fire Co.
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Following loosely organized fire protection efforts by the community since 1897, the Kinzer Fire Co. was formally chartered in 1916. Named after Harry Kinzer, the area was referred to as Kinzer or Kinzer's for 120 years until 1963 when the US Postal Service officially issued a zip code to the community
known as Kinzers. Despite the communities name change, Kinzer Fire Co. retained their original name. Present day, fifty members (about 3/4 who are Amish) provide Fire and Rescue protection to a residential/commercial area along Route 30 in Paradise Township answering 115 alarms annually.
Kinzer Fire Co. - Lancaster County Station 45
The original firehouse, a double deep single bay (which still stands nearby onRoute 30) was constructed in 1920 and was occupied until 1957 when a two bay engine room was built. It featured an auxiliary power unit installed in 1954 to provide back-up for the county funded zone base radio station that was implemented in 1953 (this system operated for three days and two nights in 1958 when heavy snow interrupted electric and phone service. In 1978, the three bay firehouse (with kitchen) shown above was built at which time the auxiliary power unit for the zone base radio station was moved to the Hand-in-Hand Fire Co. of Bird-in-Hand which was later replaced with the establishment of Lancaster County Wide Communications. In 1994 a dining hall and larger kitchen were added bringing the firehouse to its' current size.
Engine 45-2 - 2003 Pierce Dash 4x4 1750 gpm/500 gal.
Having replaced a 1986 International/Pierce Minuteman 450/400/30F mini-pumper, Engine 45-2 responds first due to alarms. It features an eight man cab (five with SCBA), 20 kw PTO generator powering a 200’ cord reel and 30' light tower. It is equipped with four pre-connects (100’ 1-3/4” in the front bumper, two 300’ 1-3/4” and one 2-1/2” crosslays), 300’ of 2-1/2” pre-connected to a Blitzfire® monitor, 1,250’ of 5” LDH supply line, a 5” gated manifold with (4) 2-1/2” discharges
and two sections each of 8’ and 10’ suction hose. It also carries 600’ of forestry hose, an electric submersible pump, 18” chain and vent saws, gas positive pressure/electric negative pressure fans, a thermal imager, gas meter and an AED. For rescue operations, it carries an 18 volt DeWalt® tool set (hammer drill, impact wrenches, reciprocating/circular saws and grinder), assorted size cribbing and four rescue struts (while Kinzer does not perform vehicle extrication, they are bordered by mutual aid companies that operate heavy rescues).
Engine 45-1 (Retired) - 1996 International 4900/Emergency One 1500 gpm/500 gal.
Replaced with a 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 3500HD utility pick-up, this rig now serves the Bush FD in Kentucky. Originally a demonstrator that featured a six man cab (three with SCBA), it was outfitted with a pre-connected deck gun and 15kw diesel generator supplying power to a 200’ cord reel, four scene lights and two tri-pod lights. Its' equipment complement included three 300’ pre-connects (two 1-3/4”, one 2-1/2”), 1,050’ of 5” LDH supply line, three 10’ sections of hard sleeve suction,
a chimney fire kit, 18” chain/vent saws and a thermal imager. Prior to being sold, it was loaned to the Paradise-Leaman Place Fire Co. (who was awaiting delivery of a 2013 Pierce Dash CF engine) in exchange for the use of their 2007 Chevy crew cab utility pick-up.
Tanker 45 (Retired) - 1991 Pierce Dash 1250 gpm/3000 gal.
This rig has quite a history - it was reportedly the first to be outfitted with a 450 HP Allison automatic transmission, the last canopy cab produced in the USA and as the twelfth apparatus in the company’s history, it actually cost $10,000 less (fully equipped) than the previous eleven units combined!!! It has since been replaced with a 2018 Pierce Enforcer 3,000 gallon tandem axle pumper-tanker and now serves in Rochester, Vermont. Seating four, it featured a 12” rear dump with side dumps,
two 1-3/4” crosslays, 1,000’ of 5” LDH supply line, a 3,500 gallon folding tank, two 15’ sections of suction hose and drafting equipment. After 18 years of service, the rig underwent a light refurbishment in 2009 with the undercarriage re-painted, replacement
of diamond plate and the addition of aluminum wheels. As the company’s specialty is “Movin' Big Water”, this rig responded for water supply operations as far away as 30 minutes south into the neighboring state of Delaware!
Antique - 1913 Obenchain Boyer Chemical Tank Wagon
Purchased by the townspeople in 1913 prior to the formal organization of the Kinzer Fire Co. in 1916, this was actually the second apparatus used to provide fire protection to the area (a single cylinder piston type water pump with an air cooled gas engine mounted on a four wheel hand drawn wagon was purchased in 1897). When the fire company was chartered in 1916, this was the only apparatus at the time which was stored along with several buckets
and hand tools in a small building on the property of the local feed mill and warehouse.