Lafayette Fire Co.
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Organized in 1943, the company selected their name in honor of General Marquis D. Lafayette who assembled his troops at a site along the current Old Philadelphia Pike during his 1825 march into Lancaster. Present day, the Lafayette Fire Co. operates as one of four volunteer companies in East Lampeter Township - located East of the City of Lancaster, their volunteer members (including live-ins) provide Fire and Rescue protection to a diverse response area encompassing 15 square miles of East Lampeter and Lancaster Townships.
Lancaster County Station 63
Occupied in 2012, Station 63 features five drive-through bays, gear storage for 68 members and a dedicated area for the company’s antique rig. It replaced a station built in 1975 on the forward portion of their property that featured two 100’ deep bays which allowed “stacking” of their five front line apparatus as well as the antique rig.
Engine 63-1 - 2003 Pierce Dash 1500 gpm/500 gal.
Originally serving the Riviera Beach (Maryland) Fire Co. as the infamous “Squadzilla”, this rig entered service in 2009 after an in-house rehab which replaced a 1991 Spartan/Saulsbury rescue engine that now serves the Massie Township FD in Harveysburg, Ohio. Responding first due to rescue calls and second due to fires, it features a 12 ton bumper mounted winch, 20kw hydraulic generator, a 6,000 watt light tower and four bottle 6,000 psi cascade system. Its’ equipment complement
includes 1,950' of various size attack line, 1,200' of 5" supply line and 30 gallons of Alcohol Resistant-AFFF foam. For rescue operations, it is outfitted with a pre-connected 10,000 PSI Hurst® hydraulic rescue tool system.
Engine 63-2 - 2021 Pierce Enforcer 2000 gpm/500 gal.
Responding first due, it is assigned for structure fires, automatic alarms, gas leaks and stand-by transfers. It is outfitted with 1,200' of 1-3/4" and 300' of 2-1/2" attack line, 600' of 3" and 1,500' of 5" LDH supply line as well as 10 gallons of AR-AFFF foam.
Engine 63-2 (Retired) - 1978 Mack CF/1992 PA Fire Apparatus 1500 gpm/500 gal.
When purchased new as a canopy cab, this rig was the company’s first apparatus equipped with jumpseats and a diesel engine. After serving as the first due engine until 1991, in anticipation of being converted to the foam unit, it was sent out for a year-long rehab complete with a four door cab enclosure, a new body with larger hose bed and recertification of the pump. Seating six, it featured a 6kw diesel generator and was equipped with 1,900' of attack line as well as 1,200' of 5" LDH supply line. Later operated as a second due engine, it responded throughout Lancaster County as part of the countywide foam task force. As Lafayette's oldest in-service rig and the second oldest frontline apparatus in Lancaster County, this rig suffered an engine compartment fire in 2017 at which time its' future was questioned by many, however, it returned to active service once again after repairs until being retired with a new 2021 Pierce Enforcer 2000/500 engine that responds first due to structure fires, automatic alarms and standby transfers. Through the generous support of a local heavy truck shop providing maintenance, Engine 63-2 will remain with the company until at least 2026. Present day, Lafayette operates a 2005 MGS Industries foam trailer with 500 gpm rated monitor as part of the countywide task force carrying 350 gallons of AR-AFFF and 50 gallons of high expansion foam as well as 80 pounds of dry chemical.
Tower 63 - 2007 Pierce Quantum 95'/2000 gpm
Beginning in 1983, Lafayette Fire Co. began operating as a truck company originally using a 1965 Ford C/Hahn pumper converted to a quad after which a 1986 Mack CF/LTI 75'/1500/150 rear mount aerial entered service. Present day, Tower 63 operates as the only truck company in East Lampeter Township responding on automatic aid to numerous surrounding communities. It is outfitted with a 20kw generator, 235' of ground ladders,
high angle rope rescue gear, a rescue tri-pod, assorted saws/fans, an oxyacetylene cutting torch and water rescue equipment.
Squad 63-1 - 2016 Ford F550 4x4/SWAB
Operating as a tactical support unit, Squad 63-1 responds to motor vehicle accidents, high priority EMS assists and tows the company's foam trailer. Seating five (with SCBA for all), Its' equipment complement includes a thermal imager, gas meter, battery powered saws/hand tools, rope rescue gear, RIT equipment, high rise hose packs and BLS medical gear including an AED.
Duty Officer Vehicle (DOV) 63 - 2021 Ford Utility Police Interceptor
Assigned to the duty officer every Monday at 18:00 for a weeklong tour, this all wheel drive command vehicle was custom upfitted by 10-8 Emergency Vehicle Services with an emergency warning light package, an iPad® and a rear command console which stores an SCBA and BLS medical gear including an AED.
Antique 63 - 1949 Chevrolet/High Steel Welding 500 gpm
This rig started the seventy plus year tradition of operating apparatus painted in Lafayette's distinctive "Omaha Orange" color scheme. In 1949, the fire company ordered a Chevy chassis from the local dealership to have a pumper body mounted by a local builder (High Steel Welding). Apparently, there was a clerical error with the paint color ID number and the truck ended up being painted Omaha Orange. When the pumper was delivered (fully assembled and painted), the members found it so unique they decided all future rigs would be ordered in this color scheme which they have been for the past seventy plus years.
Originally placed in service in 1949, it is equipped with a 500 gpm Darley® pump transferred from the company’s original 1937 Chevy. While equipped with a pump, it never carried a drop of water - instead, it ran with the company's original 1937 engine as a two-piece company until 1965. It was then sold to the Armstrong World Industries Innovation Center, a local manufacturer with multiple plants in Lancaster County where it was repainted red and lettered to identify their fire brigade. In 2003, it was retired and sold to a private collector - in 2009, a member of Lafayette saw this rig parked on a local farm nearby - convinced this was the company’s old rig after passing it numerous times, the company was able to confirm it was indeed their rig and negotiated its’ purchase. It has since been fully restored and repainted to its’ original Omaha Orange color scheme. Amazingly, when it was photographed in 2010, after existing for over sixty years, it had only 2,600 miles on the odometer!!!
Present day, this rig is maintained in a dedicated bay of the museum in Lafayette's headquarters.
