|
The IAFF
PFFM
IAFF Local
Listing
Fallen
Firefighters Memorial
Listen
live to the NBFD!
|
 |
|
Photos provided by Lt. Jeff Camara
(ret.) and Paul Lestage
The
Early Years
In
1772, the first recorded piece of firefighting apparatus was
purchased and placed in service in the city of New Bedford, called
Independence No. 1, and located in the center of what was then known
as Bedford Village. As this first fire service began to grow, the
New Bedford Fire Society was formed in 1807, to create rules and
regulations for the volunteer firefighters at the time.
Twenty-seven years later, on January 30, 1834, an ordinance was
signed officially organizing the New Bedford Fire Department as a
paid fire service within the city of New Bedford. At that time, the
department consisted of six engine companies and one ladder company:
Independence No. 1
Citizen No. 2
Engine No. 3
Phoenix No. 4
Columbian No. 5
Mechanic No. 6
Pioneer Hook and Ladder No. 1
The
1830's also saw the creation of Philadelphia No. 7 and Young America
No. 8, originally known as Novelty No. 8. The apparatus of the time
were elaborately decorated horse-drawn carriages with steam pumps.
Earlier versions consisted of hand-pumped appliances, operated by
shear man-power. Firefighters of the time often participated in
"musters," which were friendly contests between fire companies to
compete for the pride an honor of being the "best" company. It was
also a chance for the members to show off their fire engines and
their firefighting skills. These musters often included events such
as racing fire engines to see who was faster, as well as which
company could throw water the furthest with their pumps.
By
1845, the New Bedford Fire Department now consisted of ten engine
companies and one ladder company, with the additions of Hancock No.
9 and Franklin No. 10. The late 1800's would see the creation of
Hook and Ladder No. 2, as well as Hose No. 1 and Hose No. 2.
[ TOP OF PAGE ]
Turn of the
Century
Shortly after the turn of the century, the department was completely
motorized and consisted of nine engine companies, four ladder
companies, and three hose companies operating from ten fire stations
throughout the city. Hose companies were a carry-over from the days
of horse-drawn steam engines. At the time, engine companies carried
only large hose lines used to supply the engines with water from
whatever the source might have been. The hose companies supplied
the engine companies with smaller hose lines used to carry the water
to the scene of a fire.
In the
early 1900s, the New Bedford firefighting fleet consisted of the
following apparatus:
| Engine 1 |
Station 5 |
| Engine 2 |
Station 2 |
| Engine 3 |
Station 3 |
| Engine 4 |
Station 4 |
| Engine 6 |
Station 6 |
| Engine 7 |
Station 7 |
| Engine 9 |
Station 9 |
| Engine 10 |
Station 10 |
| |
|
| Ladder 1 |
Station 2 |
| Ladder 2 |
Station 10 |
| Ladder 3 |
Station 6 |
| Ladder 4 |
Station 8 |
| Truck 5 |
Station 3 |
| |
|
| Hose 1 |
Station 2 |
| Hose 2 |
Station 8 |
| Hose 4 |
Station 11 |
(Hose 2 would later become Engine 8. Hose 4 would later
become Engine 11. Truck 5 was a type of truck called a "City
Service Truck." It did not have an aerial ladder but carried a
full compliment of ground ladders only.)
|
Total Apparatus: 16
Total Stations: 10
A new type of fire
apparatus was put into service in 1945, called a fog truck, and was
designated as Fog Co. #1, to replace Hose Co. #1. It was later
re-designated Engine 1 and the old Engine 1 housed at the old
Station 5 on County and Hillman was reassigned to the new Station 5
on Acushnet Avenue near Braley Road and re-designated Engine 5.
Throughout the 1950s, the department purchased a large amount of
Maxim fire engines that were manufactured locally by Maxim Fire
Apparatus in Middleboro, MA. From the late 1940s into the
1970s, the NBFD apparatus fleet was mix of Maxim engines, as well as
Seagrave, Maxim, and Mack aerial ladder trucks.
[ TOP OF PAGE ]
1970 ~ 1999
Beginning in the 1970s,
the size of the New Bedford Fire Department was reduced as several
companies were cut from the budget and decommissioned. Engine
Company 10 was disbanded in 1972, followed by Engine Company 2 in
1976. Three years later, in the late winter of 1979, Stations 4 and
10 were closed. At that time, Engine Company 4 was decommissioned
and Ladder Company 2 was transferred to Station 9, only to be
disbanded in 1981. Fire Station 3 was closed a short time later in
1991, and Engine Company 3 was disbanded. Also in the 1970s,
an experiment was conducted on the visibility of fire apparatus at
night. As a result, the standard color of the fire apparatus
in New Bedford changed from traditional red to a "more visible" lime
green color. This concept was abandoned by 1990 and all
apparatus purchased after 1988 were painted traditional fire engine
red. Today, the NBFD apparatus fleet sports an updated,
two-tone color scheme featuring a white roof on top of a red body.
With advances in warning light technology and reflective striping,
modern fire apparatus of the late 21st century no longer needed to
be painted in "high visibility" color schemes.
[ TOP OF PAGE ]
2000 ~ Present: Turn of the
Millennium
Rescue Company 1 was
organized in 1995 as a specialized "Special Hazards" unit and was
stationed in Engine 3's former quarters at the corner of Reed and
Kempton Streets. Rescue 1 carried technical rescue equipment and
was equipped to handle hazardous materials incidents. It also
carried a mobile cascade system, which allowed firefighter's oxygen
tanks to be refilled at the scene of a fire. In 2002, Rescue 1 was
decommissioned and Station 3 was closed once again.
In March, 2003, Engine
Company 8 was cut from the budget and decommissioned. Shortly
thereafter, Engine Company 5 and Ladder Company 4 were re-designated
as Quint 5 and Quint 4, respectively. The Quint concept allowed a
company to operate both as an engine company and a ladder company.
The term "Quint" by definition refers to the five functions that the
truck can provide: pump, water, hose, aerial ladder, and a full
compliment of ground ladders.
Below are photos from the decommissioning of Engine
Co. 8 on March 2, 2003. (Engine 8 was currently running with a
reserve truck, Engine 27.)
In an unprecedented
turn of events, Engine Company 8 made history in July of 2006, when
it was officially re-commissioned becoming the first ever New
Bedford fire company to be brought back into service after being cut
from the budget. As a result, Quint 4 and Quint 5 returned to their
original designations of Ladder 4 and Engine 5, respectively, and no
longer operate in the "Quint" capacity. Today, there
are seven engine companies and three ladder companies throughout the
city of New Bedford, commanded by two District Chiefs.
Below are photos that reflect the current state of
the New Bedford Fire Department apparatus fleet.
|
Current Apparatus and Locations
| Engine 1 |
Station 2 |
| Engine 5 |
Station 5 |
| Engine 6 |
Station 6 |
| Engine 7 |
Station 7 |
| Engine 8 |
Station 8 |
| Engine 9 |
Station 9 |
| Engine 11 |
Station 11 |
| |
|
| Ladder 1 |
Station 2 |
| Ladder 3 |
Station 6 |
| Ladder 4 |
Station 8 |
Total Apparatus: 10
Total Stations: 7
[ TOP OF PAGE ]
A History of Firehouses in the
City of New Bedford
At one time, there were as many as 12 active fire
stations in the city of New Bedford. Many of the original
stations have since been torn down either to be replaced or to
make way for new construction. Today, there are actually
13 fire stations in New Bedford, of which, only 7 are active
stations. The other 6 are no longer fire stations, and
most of them are either vacant or privately owned.
The map below was taken from the Standard on
March 23, 1924. It pictures the locations of all fire
stations in New Bedford at that time, as well as locations for
two proposed new fire stations--one at Tarkiln Hill Road and
Ashley Boulevard (where the 'new' Station 9 stands today) as
well as at Acushnet Avenue and Phillips Road. (This is
where the original location was to be for the far north end
fire station. In reality, that station would be built in
1954 about one mile north of that location on Acushnet Avenue.)
|
Fire Station 1
Fire Station 1 was located at 1558 Purchase
Street, at the foot of Franklin Street. It was built in
the mid to late 1800s and originally housed Onward No. 1.
In 1917, Onward 1 was disbanded when a new motorized Ahrens Fox
fire engine was purchased to create a new company at the new
central fire station (currently Station 2). Two years
later in 1919, the former Station 1 officially became the New
Bedford Fire Department Repair Shop. The building operated
in this capacity until around 2003 when the NBFD repair
facilities were moved to their current location at 311 Liberty
Street at the city yard. Today, the old Station 1 remains
vacant and in disrepair. (The hose tower on the station was
apparently struck by lightning long ago, and as a result was
taken down.)
|
 
|
[ TOP OF PAGE ]
|
|
Fire Station 2
Fire Station 2 was originally located at the
northwestern corner of Purchase Street and Mechanics Lane.
Built in the 1800s, the old ivy covered Station 2 was replaced
in 1917 by the new Central Fire Station, which stands proudly
today at 868 Pleasant Street. The new three-story red
brick firehouse on Pleasant Street was much larger and was home
to the first motorized apparatus in the New Bedford Fire
Department. Today, the current Station 2 is still the
Central Fire Station for the NBFD. The former central
station was torn down in 1969.
|
|
[ TOP OF PAGE ]
|
|
Former Quarters of Ladder Co.
#2
(This station no longer exists)
Ladder Co. 2 and Hose Co. 2 were housed in this
fire station located near Weld's Square that was built around
1888. This building also housed a New Bedford Police
station at the time. It is not known when this station was
closed. The building no longer exists today.
|
|
[ TOP OF PAGE ]
|
|
Fire
Station 3
Built in 1904, Station 3 is located at the corner
of Kempton and Reed Streets in the far west end of the city,
near Buttonwood Park. It was once home to Engine Co. 3,
which was disbanded in 1991. From 1991 until 1995, this
station remained largely unused. It temporarily housed the
Bureau of Fire Prevention. In 1995, Station 3 was reopened
and became home to Rescue Co. 1 until it was disbanded in 2002.
Today, the building is used by the New Bedford Emergency
Management Agency as well as the New Bedford Animal Control.
|
|
[ TOP OF PAGE ]
|
|
Fire
Station 4
Station 4 was built in 1867, and shortly before
its closure in 1979 was one of the oldest active fire stations
in Massachusetts. Located at the corner of South Sixth and
Bedford Streets, today Station 4 serves as the
New Bedford Fire Museum, which remains an outstanding
tribute to the history and tradition of the New Bedford Fire
Department. Items on display in the museum include the
original Cornelius Howland steam engine that operated from
Station 4. There are also two antique Ahrens Fox motorized
fire engines housed here that are still in good working order
and are often used in parades.
|
|
[ TOP OF PAGE ]
|
|
Fire
Station 5
The former Fire Station 5, located at the corner
of County and Hillman Streets, was built around 1893 during the
same time period as Station 7 was built. (Hence the
similarities in their construction). Engine Co. 1 was
assigned here until 1954 when it was reassigned to the new
Station 5 in Sassaquin, and was re-designated as Engine Co. 5.
When the new station opened, the former Station 5 at County and
Hillman was closed, but housed the Civil Defense Agency for a
number of years until the 1990s. Today, the former Station
5 remains vacant and in extreme disrepair.
|
|
[ TOP OF PAGE ]
|
|
Fire
Station 6
Fire Station 6 was built in 1882, located at the
corner of Purchase and Potomska Streets in the south end.
The building remained largely the same for many years until
2000, when an additional apparatus bay was constructed to
accommodate a new, modern apparatus for Ladder 3 which was too
big for the existing apparatus bays. Today, Station 6 is
the oldest active fire station in the city of New Bedford, and
is perhaps one of the oldest firehouses in the state of
Massachusetts.
|
|
[ TOP OF PAGE ]
|
|
Fire
Station 7
Built in 1889, Station 7 is
located in the west end of New Bedford at the corner of Durfee
and Cottage Streets, within a short distance from New Bedford
High School. This station was built a few years before the
old Station 5 located at County and Hillman Streets. As
such, they closely resembled each other in their construction
styles, featuring a half-circle shaped 'desk room' which was the
first room one entered upon setting foot in the station.
Over the years, the interior of Station 7 had fallen into
disrepair. However, in 2006, the City of New Bedford began
renovating the inside of the station to create better living
conditions for the firefighters. Station 7 remains one of
the busiest firehouses in New Bedford to this day.
|
|
[ TOP OF PAGE ]
|
|
Fire
Station 8
Located at 1599 Acushnet Avenue
on the corner of Davis Street, Fire Station 8 was built in 1893.
The building originally had three apparatus bays, two facing to
the Acushnet Ave. side, and one facing the Davis Street side.
It is rumored that this building was the first and only station
in New Bedford to feature a "drive-through" apparatus bay, that
returning apparatus would drive into the building through the
Davis Street bay and return to their respective bays facing
Acushnet Ave. Sometime in the 1970s, the arch above
the southern apparatus bay door was removed to allow larger
apparatus to be used for Ladder 4. During 2004, a fourth
apparatus bay was constructed at the rear of Station 8 to
accommodate a new truck for Ladder 4, which was too large for
the existing bays. This new bay also faces the Davis
Street side.
|
|
[ TOP OF PAGE ]
|
|
Fire
Station 9
The original Station 9 was
located at 2240 Acushnet Avenue, near Lund's Corner. It
was, for many years, the northernmost fire station in the city.
In 1934, however, the station became too small and a new station
was constructed just west of the original location at the corner
of Tarkiln Hill Road and Ashley Boulevard, where Station 9
stands today. The new building was the first station built
to accommodate motorized fire apparatus. Today, the former Station 9 still stands at
its original location, however it is no longer a fire station.
It is privately owned and is operated by the People's Christian
Church of New Bedford.
|
|
[ TOP OF PAGE ]
|
|
Fire
Station 10
Station 10 is perhaps the most
visible station in the City of New Bedford, though most never
realize it. Located at 2071 Purchase Street, at the foot
of Cedar Grove Street almost directly underneath the Route 195
bridge, Station 10 was built around 1900. Perhaps the most
prominent feature of Station 10 was the 6-story training tower
built adjacent to the station. What is today known as "Old
Glory Tower," this tower can be clearly seen as motorists pass
over the Route 195 bridge. A new American Flag flies atop
this tower every month to honor past military veterans.
Once home to Engine Co. 10, when
Ladder Co. 2's former quarters near Weld's Square (see above)
was closed down, Ladder 2 transferred to Station 10, where it
remained until 1979, when the station was closed. In 1991,
the building was sold to a private party. Today, the old
Station 10 is vacant.
|
|
[ TOP OF PAGE ]
|
|
Fire
Station 11
Located at 754
Brock Ave., Station 11 was built in 1908 at the corner of Brock
Avenue and Mott Streets. It is home to Engine Co. 11,
which was originally organized as Oregon No. 11, which was later
re-designated as Hose Co. 4, only to be changed back to Engine
Co. 11.
|
|
[ TOP OF PAGE ]
The History of the Maltese Cross
The badge of a firefighter is the Maltese Cross.
This cross was a symbol of protection and a badge of
honor. Its story is hundreds of years old.
When a courageous
band of crusaders known as the Knights of St. John,
fought the Saracens for possession of the holy land,
they encountered a new weapon unknown to European
warriors. It was a simple but horrible device of
war, it wrought excruciating pain and agonizing
death upon the brave fighters for the cross. The
Saracen's weapon was fire.
|
 |
As
the crusaders advanced on the walls of the city,
they were struck by glass bombs containing naphtha.
When they became saturated with the highly flammable
liquid, the Saracens hurled a flaming torch into
their midst. Hundreds of the knights were burned
alive; others risked their lives to save their
brothers-in-arms from dying painful, fiery deaths.
Thus, these men became the first of a long list of
courageous firefighters. Their heroic efforts were
recognized by fellow crusaders who awarded each hero
a badge of honor - an eight-pointed cross similar to the one
firefighters wear today. Each point of the
cross represented a heroic trait of the Knights
of St. John; Gallantry, Sympathy, Tact,
Observation, Explicitness, Dexterity, Loyalty,
and Perseverance. Since the Knights of St.
John lived for close to four centuries on a little
island in the Mediterranean Sea named Malta, the
cross came to be known as the Maltese Cross.
The Maltese Cross is your symbol of protection. It
means that the firefighter who wears this cross is
willing to lay down his life for you just as the
crusaders sacrificed their lives for their fellow
man so many years ago. The Maltese Cross is a
firefighter's badge of honor, signifying that he
works in courage - a ladder rung away from death.
(information courtesy of
http://www.nyc.gov/html/fdny/html/history/maltese_cross.shtml
)
|
|
[ TOP OF PAGE ]
|
|
