In 1963 the Town of Wilbraham celebrated its Bicentennial. In addition to the celebration activities that year, the town was experiencing a “population explosion”. The fire department along with other departments was asking for additional personnel to keep up with the demands caused by a rapidly expanding community. Even though the town was facing these problems along with other communities at the time, the town still took time to honor and celebrate two hundred years of its history. In total, more than 500 Townspeople were engaged in working out the details of various activities. Some of the events scheduled were a Music Festival, Pageant, Celebration Ball, Sports, Events, Town Supper, Town Singing, Fireworks, and a Parade.
As we look at the next fifty-six years, the fire department will show again its great accomplishments. This is due in part to the dedicated men and women who have served and who are still serving this community. It gives me great pride to share these milestones regarding personnel, stations, equipment, technologies, etc.
The appointment of the first full-time firefighter was that of the Fire Chief in 1957. Two more were added in 1960 and again two more in 1963 for a present total of five on full-time duty. Two are stationed at each firehouse with the Chief’s Office at the Boston Road station. In the early 1960s, the town also experienced a tragic event, the first house fire fatality that occurred in department history. A sixteen-year-old girl lost her life in a tragic house fire on Beebe Road.
1965 saw a new chief's car put into service to replace the 1955 Plymouth sedan. This new car was a 1965 Dodge two-door sedan.
Town’s people voted unanimously in March of 1966 to appropriate money for a new fire truck. This truck was a 1967 International 500-gallon-per-minute pumper. This pumper was stationed at Wilbraham Center and is designated as Engine No. 4.
In 1968 two more firefighters were now part of the permanent force. There are now a total of eleven personnel on the job. In October of that same year, the department started shift coverage giving the town much-needed protection with permanent personnel on duty from 7:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. With these new shifts, officers were needed so two members were appointed to the grade of acting Lieutenant.
The radio alerting system, authorized at a previous town meeting, was purchased and put into operation in November 1968. This system was to improve call back for firefighters off duty for major incidences.
The fire department during 1969 continued to grow, not in numbers, but in the efficiency of both personnel and equipment. A 1500-gallon water tanker, that was authorized, at the annual town meeting, was purchased and added to the apparatus at fire headquarters in North Wilbraham. The new tanker was designated as Tanker No.1 but was referred to as Tanker No.7 due to its radio assignment.
The department seeks to replace a 1938 Reo pumper and the 1962 Cadillac ambulance in 1969’s annual warrant, i.e. the Reo with a brush truck and the ambulance with a newer ambulance. The fire headquarters building received a facelift which was necessitated by a flashing and cornice problem which caused water damage to the roof. In October, the firefighters elected to organize as Local 1847 of the IAFF (AFL-CIO) after certification by the Massachusetts Labor Relations Commission. The signing of the first union contract took place in 1970.
In 1970, a brush truck for off-road forest and grass fires was placed in service at the center fire station and designated Forestry No. 9. This new vehicle was on an International Harvester step-side pickup truck which took the place of the 1938 Reo which was taken out of service in 1971. Also purchased and installed were new communications base stations and five mobile radios. The department has been short a front-line pumper and has been getting by with a borrowed 1951 truck. The Oren pumper purchased in 1949 failed with a blown engine during a fire.
1971 was a very tragic year for the town and the department. On January 26th another disastrous fire occurred that claimed the lives of two small children on Mountainbrook Road.
The second tragedy of that year was that of Andrew Grzybowski, a Call Firefighter who died in the line of duty. He suffered a fatal heart attack just after returning from a structure fire. Andrew was a very dedicated member of this department and spent many hours of his own time repairing fire department equipment.
The annual town meeting in March of 1971 voted for a new fire pumper truck and a new station wagon as the Chief’s car. The 1971 Maxim S Model with 1000 per minute pump was put in service and it replaced the 1949 Oren. The new pumper was designated as Engine No. 1. A new ambulance was also put in service that same year and designated as Ambulance No. 11. This new ambulance was built on an International Harvester Travelall chasse. At that present time, two ambulances serve the town.
In September of 1973, the fire department put in service a new aluminum motorboat which replaced an old "paddle-driven unit".
A new ambulance/rescue vehicle which was authorized at a town meeting in 1974 was purchased and added to the apparatus at North Wilbraham Station. This ambulance was designated as Ambulance No. 8.
At this time in 1974, there were 14 permanent members of the fire department. There was also a large Call and Auxiliary force.
Noteworthy progress was made in 1975 in the vital area of ambulance attendant training. Under the requirements of General Laws, Chapter 111C, all full-time personnel of the Wilbraham Fire Department received the specified 81 hours of Emergency Medical Technician training. Some of the Call force and Auxiliary received the same training during the early part of 1976.
A newly acquired piece of equipment, the Jaws of Life (designed to extricate trapped victims of auto wrecks), was put in service between 1974 and 1975.
In 1977 a new Chief’s car, a Buick Estate wagon, was added to the list of vehicles, also in 1977, the fire department had more qualified EMTs (21) than any other department in the area.
Between the years 1974 and 1977, the firefighters did restoration work on the old 1938 REO which became a parade vehicle for the Wilbraham Fire Department. Contributions were made by individuals and corporations to assist in the project.
In 1978 for the first time, daytime in-station dispatching was instituted to handle the increased daily workload and the department's expanding functions. Night-time dispatching is efficiently handled from the homes of the fire department dispatchers with great dedication. Ambulance No. 11 was retired from service and donated to the Massachusetts Fire Academy.
In 1979, the fire department went to around-the-clock shift coverage at fire headquarters. Twenty-four hours would not have been possible without the members of the department who did all restorations inside the building. This was a great saving to the town which only had to provide materials for the project. With this change in coverage, Station 2 was closed for manpower. The fire department also gave up the Ambulance due to an excessive workload. Those duties went to a private ambulance company based out of Springfield. All firefighters still maintain their EMT certifications and respond to all medical emergencies. Ambulance No. 8 was converted into rescue to respond to the needs of the town and was renamed Rescue 8.
Central communications for all departments have been put in service effective February 1, 1980. Central Dispatch is located at the police station. Now there is only one telephone number to serve the towns’ needs.
The department's Rescue No.8 vehicle, after sustaining major damage in a July 1980 accident, was replaced in 1980 by the conversion of Engine No. 4 into a multi-purpose
rescue pumper response vehicle.
In 1983 Engine No.4 was involved in a motor vehicle accident. The excessive damage warranted a replacement piece. A 1983 Pirsch 1250 gallon per minute pumper took Engine No. 4’s place. This new pumper was designated as Engine No.3. In addition to this new engine, a change in color scheme took place for all new fire apparatus, and the white over red paint combination became the new color instead of the all-red paint scheme. All previous vehicles were gradually painted this year to reflect the color of the new truck. Also around the same time, re-body work on Engine No. 1 was completed. This vehicle was re-designated as Engine No.2 and converted to a rescue pumper.
In 1984, the town saw the delivery of a new aerial ladder truck with a 1500-gallon-per-minute pump. This new vehicle was designated as Truck No.1. It replaced Engine No.5 which was retired that same year. Truck No. 1 was manufactured by Peter Pirsch and Sons out of Kenosha, Wisconsin. The model was a Skytop 110 Aqua, which was the first of its kind and the third 110-foot new-style aerial delivered by Pirsch.
The new truck was returned shortly after to the manufacturer due to a problem with the aerial ladder. This ladder truck was never taken back by the Wilbraham Fire Department and as a result of a settlement negotiation between the Town and the manufacturer, the Fire Department received a GMC Jimmy 4-wheel drive rescue vehicle, a Pontiac Pressian Chiefs car, and a GMC 4-wheel drive forestry truck in 1987. Both the rescue and forestry vehicles were customized by fire department personnel at considerable savings to the town.
This was the first time in department history that the new Chief's car was painted all black versus red or white over red as in the past. In the early days of fire apparatus, the color of fire department vehicles was black in many cases, because black paint was the least expensive, and red was the most costly of all colors. So in going back to tradition, the Chief's car was ordered in black just like our neighboring Springfield Fire Department Chief's car. In late December, using the proceeds of the insurance settlement, the Board of Selectmen awarded a bid for an 85-foot ladder truck. This action, combined with the other apparatus and costs received through a settlement with the manufacturer, makes the town whole relative to its earlier purchase of the defective ladder truck.
In October of 1988, the fire department received and put into service its new 85-foot rear-mount ladder truck. The manufacturer of this new truck was Ladder Towers Incorporated and this ladder was installed on a 1984 Hendrickson Chassis. This was one of a few ladder trucks that were built for FDNY as a prototype and originally had an additional ladder fly which made it a110 feet. Unfortunately for the company, FDNY never took delivery of these trucks. The new ladder truck is designated Ladder No.1. Also, in 1988 the addition of four offices to the rear of the fire headquarters station was added. These offices will be used for administration and fire prevention purposes and will also be the public entrance to the station. Engine 6 was finally retired in 1988 after 30 years of service due to safety reasons.
For the first time in this state, the First Aid for Little People Program was presented by department personnel to an audience of 200 elementary school children. This program was designed to educate young students to respond to emergencies safely.
During the year 1989, the department developed a series of emergency landing sites for medical rescue helicopters. These sites allowed helicopters to land in various parts of the community where they will be used to transport the critically ill and injured. In addition, all personnel were trained in helicopter safety protocols by Life Star, based out of Hartford Hospital in Hartford Connecticut.
On July 1, 1992, another important service was assumed when the fire department started operating the Wilbraham Emergency Ambulance Service. Three decisions led to success:(1) Local 1847 of the IAFF agreed to provide EMT services to operate the ambulance in addition to their regular duties in the fire department. (2) The annual town meeting approved a Bond issue that included funds for the necessary radio and computer equipment and (3) the Committee formed a formal ambulance society to raise funds quickly to purchase and equip an ambulance as a gift to the town. Due to the generosity of local families, their friends, local businesses, churches, fraternal organizations, PTOs, and student groups, a class 1 fully equipped vehicle went into service at midnight on July 1, 1992, to provide basic life support services. The new ambulance was manufactured by MedTec Ambulance Corporation and it is a Type III model. This new ambulance was designated Medic but became known as Medic 2 once the department bought a second ambulance in 1998.
In 1994 the fire department put into service a new pumper. This new vehicle is designated Engine 1 and it is an Emergency One 1250 gallon per minute pumper. It is stationed at fire headquarters and replaces the old Engine 2, which now serves as a reserve engine. A new tanker has also been approved by the town and vehicle specifications are being drafted. This new tanker will be in service sometime early in 1995. The old Tanker 7 was taken out of service in 1994 due to major brake problems.
An upgrade in EMT training has taken place this year. Two defibrillators were donated by the ambulance society. Members of the department completed the semi-automatic defibrillation course and are certified at the level of EMT-D.
In 1995 the first woman to be appointed full-time firefighter occurred. The department previously had a female firefighter who served admirably for many years on the Call Department. A new tanker, manufactured by Emergency One, was also placed in service this same year which carries 1500 gallons of water and is a valuable piece of equipment serving as our supplemental water supply in areas where town water is not available. This new tanker was designated as Tanker but again was referred to as Tanker 7 as days of old. A new Chiefs car was purchased and it replaced the old 1987 Car 1. The new Car 1 is a 1995 Ford Crown Victoria and was delivered in September 1995. A new funding opportunity became available this year and the department received $10,000 for a Student Awareness Fire Education (SAFE) grant from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Now fire safety can be taught in the school system by trained firefighter educators. Fire training expanded for all department members to include ice rescue skills and confined space training.
Through the efforts of The Wilbraham Lions Club, the fire department received a “Rescue Alive” ice rescue sled in 1996. This piece of equipment is essential to rescue operations for cold weather incidences. Ice rescue training expanded to include this device.
Two of the department's firefighters have successfully completed EMT-I training and currently, five more firefighters are attending this advanced level of medical training.
In August of 1997, the Selectmen approved a plan submitted by the Ambulance Oversight Committee to upgrade our ambulance service to Advanced Life Support at the Intermediate level. As mentioned before, two firefighters previously received this certification, and Advanced Life Support service was put in place on September 2nd at 6:00 pm, the start of the night shift. These two firefighters were assigned to opposite shifts so that coverage could be expanded until the other five firefighters completed their training and acquired certifications, then coverage could be 24/7. Over 200 people received advanced medical care in this first year of service. Generous contributions to the Ambulance Gift Fund allowed for the purchase of 15 key lock boxes for use in our Elders at Risk Program. This partnership with the Wilbraham SeniorCenter enables emergency responders to gain access to those who need medical attention. The 1987 GMC Jimmy Rescue was replaced by a new 1997 GMC 2500 Rescue. The old Rescue was redesignated as Prevention and used by the fire inspector.
Due to retirements in 1998, the Board of Selectmen and the Finance Committee authorized the hiring of four paramedic-trained firefighters with hopes of moving to the ALS Paramedic level shortly. A new ambulance was purchased with the proceeds from the department’s ambulance service which were put into a depreciation account authorized by the town meeting. The amount of money in this account is $120,000 which will provide the best vehicle available with no taxpayer impact. This new ambulance was designated Medic 1 and was manufactured by Horton Emergency Vehicles. The 1992 Medic which was reassigned as Medic 2 was moved to a backup ambulance status and is placed into service when staffing is available.
A new public safety facilities study committee was formed to look into the aging buildings of both fire and police departments.
A fundraising drive started in 1998 and was sponsored by the Wilbraham Grange. They raised $10,500 for the purchase of a new rescue boat, manufactured by Zodiac, to be used by the fire department in support of the newly formed Police/Fire Dive Rescue Team. The fundraising goal was reached in mid-January 1999. This new boat replaces an old aluminum motorboat from the 1973.
Another big advancement in medical care took place in 1999, the fire department is now licensed at the Advanced Life Support, Paramedic level. The department now has five Intermediates and six Paramedics to cover this higher level of care. Paramedic service is the most advanced level of care in the prehospital setting.
A new fire pumper was placed in service which replaced the 1983 Engine No. 3. The new pumper is an Emergency One 1250-gallon per minute with a 1000-gallon water tank mounted to a Freightliner chassis. It is designated as Engine No. 3. A new chief's car, Car 1, a white Chevrolet Suburban, replaced the 1995 Ford Crown Victoria.
On December 3, 1999, six Worcester firefighters died in the Worcester Cold Storage and Warehouse Co. building fire. The fire was one of the worst tragedies to occur in the fire service. Wilbraham Firefighters among other departments were called upon to assist the Worcester Fire Department in providing manpower and equipment to cover station assignments, in addition, to helping in the search and recovery efforts at the site of the tragedy.
With funding provided at the last town meeting in 2000, improvements were made to firefighters' safety. The purchase of new portable radios, firefighting helmets, and large-diameter hoses was completed and a contract for the installation of an exhaust system to remove diesel exhaust gasses from the headquarters station was awarded.
A grant made available by the state and private donations of over $28,000 will be used to purchase a thermal imaging camera, allowing firefighters to see through smoke and into confined spaces of a structure. In addition, personal alert devices and personal self-rescue systems will be added to members’ protective equipment.
Station improvements at fire headquarters included a new emergency generator and a carport built to the west side of the station by the firefighters, to store fire vehicles and the boat, due to not enough space in the station.
Vehicle changes were made this same year. The 1987 GMC Forestry 9 was converted to a support vehicle and designated Car 3. Its replacement was a 1984 Chevrolet pickup truck that was military surplus and the skid load from the previous forestry was mounted to this vehicle. This vehicle was assigned as Forestry 1. x
In 2001, in addressing water supply outside the hydrant district's new sub-developments, these areas were required to have residential sprinkler systems or may opt to install a static water supply. The first static water supply system was installed at Falcon Heights and it's able to hold 30,000 gallons of water in underground tanks. A dry hydrant is connected to these tanks which enables the fire department to draft water in case of fire. In addition, the department went to a 4-inch supply hose that is capable of supplying 1,000 gallons per minute versus 500 gallons per minute with the current 3-inch hose.
Another military surplus vehicle joined the roster. It was a 1974 2 1/2 ton 6X6 and was designated as Forestry 2. The work to convert this military vehicle into a forestry vehicle was done by members of the department.
The original 1992 Medic, later designated as Medic 2 was replaced by a new 2001 Horton Type III ambulance and took the same designation as Medic 2. Additionally, this new ambulance was dedicated in memory of Richard "Guido" Bousquet who lost his battle with occupational lung cancer in 1998. He was a member of the Wilbraham Fire Department for 19 years until his death. This new ambulance went into service in December.
Staffing changes took place in 2001. before this, each of the four groups had one officer and four privates. Now one of the groups was funded to receive an additional private, to make a six-member group. The funding for this additional member came from the ambulance operating budget which does not come from the tax rolls. Another member was added to an additional group the following year with the same source of funding.
On September 11, 2001, 19 militants associated with the Islamic extremist group al Qaeda hijacked four airplanes and carried out suicide attacks against targets in the United States. Two of the planes were flown into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York City, a third plane hit the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, just outside Washington, D.C., and the fourth plane crashed in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Almost 3,000 people were killed during the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Two Wilbraham firefighters joined the massive recovery effort at Ground Zero in New York 10 days after the attacks. Both firefighters were part of a Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) team that worked on counseling fellow firefighters from around the country as they dug through the rubble during the rescue and recovery mission. They worked on the "Pile", side by side with other firefighters from around the country.
In 2002, the 1971 fire pumper, Engine No. 2 was removed from service because it needed over $45000 in repairs. The department is slated to receive funding in the fiscal year 2004 for a replacement rescue pumper as part of the town's Capital Plan Budget. The rescue pumper will provide a basic fire pumper and consolidate all the vehicle extrication tools and equipment onto one truck. A new hydraulic rescue tool will be purchased, replacing one put in service 15 years ago. This new pumper will be designated as Engine 2. A new quick attack/forestry unit slated to enter service by July 2003 will provide emergency service to all types of incidences including emergency medical and initial fire attacks in remote locations in town.
The quest for a new public safety facility has been targeted for 2005, at the earliest. The headquarters station continues to pose life safety and health issues for the on-duty staff.
A request for $85,000 has been made to provide an interim response to these issues until major capital funds become available.
In 2003 in an attempt to remedy the existing problems plaguing the small and deteriorating fire headquarters building, monies were appropriated to provide the department with a trailer “addition” and for repairs to the building.
Studio One Incorporate, out of Springfield, was hired as the architectural firm to work with the public safety facilities study committee. Many sites in town were looked at for the location of this proposed safety complex. Eventually, two sites were seriously considered, the first being the ball field in front of Memorial School located at 310 Main Street, and the second being at the rear of the town office building located at 240 Springfield Street. The latter was then decided to be the primary location.
A quick attack mini pumper unit was placed in service in July. This vehicle was designed to access long and narrow driveways and remote homes. This would aid in initial fire attacks and a variety of incidents. This vehicle, which was designated as the Squad, was custom-built by Emergency One and was mounted on a Ford chassis. The Squad was renamed Squad 51 when it took over the duties of the 1997 Rescue in 2006. Squad 51 was outfitted with the same EMS equipment that the Rescue had carried.
In 2004, updates to the current fire headquarters took place. Temporary Trailers were added to the rear of the station. These trailers contained individual dormitories, a training room, a shift commander's office, an EMS office, and storage space. The locker room was moved out of the boiler room and relocated to the old dormitory located on the 2nd floor of the station. This old dormitory was not to code due to not having a secondary means of egress and other violations deemed by the building inspector. The boiler room was separated and a female bathroom was installed and a hallway connected the temporary trailers. Other improvements included an exhaust system that would connect to all vehicles inside the station and would vent out exhaust gasses from these vehicles to the outside.
Due to the persistently weak economy, the public safety complex was put on hold while other options could be explored. Those other options included renovating both the fire headquarters and Station 2. It was found that the area and geography of the town would better be suited to having two stations rather than one station located in the center of town. Response times would be reduced by taking this approach and studies have proven for better outcomes in both fire, medical, and other emergency incidents.
2005 was the year that the new rescue/pumper went into service. The new pumper is an Emergency One 1250-gallon per minute with a 760-gallon water tank mounted to a Freightliner chassis. It is designated as Engine No. 2 but was known as "MAC" for Fire Commissioner Alton McDonald who passed away this same year. He was also a retired Wilbraham Police Sergeant who served his community for over 25 years along with being a volunteer firefighter in the early years. "MAC's" name is displayed proudly on the new Engine No. 2 and this vehicle replaces the old Engine No. 2 that was sold to a fire department in Alburg Vermont.
The town approved funding to renovate Fire Station #2 located on Woodland Dell Road.
This will improve the protection of the southern section of the community. The project includes renovating the current apparatus floor and downstairs bathroom along with finishing the attic space with three bunk rooms, a bathroom, a kitchen, and a day room. A full shed dormer was added to the east side to increase the living area. Other improvements to the building included a diesel exhaust system, which was provided by a grant, and the installation of the old radio tower that used to serve the fire headquarters. A fire engine and ambulance along with two Firefighter-EMT-P will be stationed at this location.
The department also received a grant to replace two-thirds of the department's air packs.
On June 13th, 2006, the fire department reopened Station #2 on Woodland Dell Road at a cost of $218,000. This will be the first time in 25 years that the station will be manned full-time. Now with the two full-time stations, the department will have the ability to provide better coverage to all parts of town. There also was a growing support of town officials regarding adding space and remodeling the fire headquarters.
A brand-new ambulance was placed in service this same year. This vehicle is a 2006 Type III ambulance manufactured by Horton Emergency Vehicles. It's mounted to a Ford E450 chassis and costs $134,099. Commonwealth of Massachusetts Regulations is very specific in having all registered ambulances in this state be white in color with an orange horizontal stripe. Our previous ambulances, since taking back the service in 1992, have been white but with a waiver to have a red stripe versus an orange. Fire departments in the state that provide ambulance services have been doing red stripes to signify fire department-based service and separating themselves from the private service. Now changes with fire departments in the state going with a red paint scheme and white horizontal stripe, to further distinguish themselves from the private sector was happening. Wilbraham Fire Department was granted this waiver and the new ambulance represented this color change.
In 2007 a new chief car, Car 1, a black Ford Expedition, replaced the old Car 1, a 1999 white Chevrolet Suburban. The old Car 1 was redesignated as Prevention, and used by the fire inspector. Previously to this, the fire inspector used the old 1987 Prevention vehicle, Car 3, and a retired 1990s Wilbraham Police car. In 2009 the white 1999 Chevrolet Suburban Prevention vehicle received a new paint job to match the existing fleet and other minor modifications to make it a second command vehicle. It was redesignated as Car 2 and is used by the fire inspector. This vehicle also replaced the old 1997 Car 2, Shift Commanders vehicle. As you can see by now, many vehicles have been repurposed over the years to get the most life use out of them.
Between 2007 and 2008 upgrades to the Boston Road Fire Station were completed. They include a replacement emergency generator, boiler upgrade, and new roof deck insulation. Approximately $70,000 in grant funds was made available by various Federal and State programs to purchase fire equipment for personnel.
A comprehensive public safety staffing study was completed by the town in October 2008. The Matrix Consulting Group recommends funding for six positions: Deputy Chief, Captain of Training-EMS, and one firefighter for the two short groups to bring the shift complement to six.
A new Rescue was put in service in 2008. It was a 2008 Ford Expedition which replaced the old 1997 Rescue. This old Rescue was converted to a Shift Commanders vehicle and designated Car 2. It functioned as a second command vehicle until it was replaced by the fire inspector vehicle, Car 2 in 2009.
In 2009 new heaters were installed on the apparatus floor of Fire Headquarters which replaced 30+-year-old units.
The Wilbraham Fire/Police Dive Team was able to purchase underwater communications equipment with funds from various fundraising efforts and the Towns Capital Plan. This equipment allows divers to communicate with the rescue boat for improved safety and command and control of the incident. In addition, a new rescue boat went into service. This boat was manufactured by Rescue One Corporation and designated as Marine 1. It replaces the 1999 Zodiac rescue boat.
In 2010 the Fire Department instituted electronic patient care records to improve the flow of information between EMTs and hospital services. Also, CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) equipment was provided for both ambulances for improved patient care with funds from the Ambulance Gift Fund. A new ambulance has been ordered and delivery is expected in mid-summer of 2011. The $151,289 purchase was funded from ambulance-generated revenues.
In 2011 three major weather events impacted the town. The first was the June tornado which touched down in the southern part of town. The second event happened on June 26th with a micro-burst touching down in the center part of town and the third event was the October snow storm which impacted the entire community. All three weather events required outside assistance from local, state, and federal agencies.
The new ambulance was put in service in early summer and is designated as Medic 3. This ambulance will not be replacing the two that are currently in service and this will be an addition to the fleet. EMS call volume has increased so drastically over the years that it warranted a third ambulance. The 2001 Medic 2 will serve as a spare unless call-back staffing is available to place it in service. This vehicle is a Ford E450 Type III ambulance manufactured by Horton Emergency Vehicles.
2012 the Fire Department received a grant award from FEMA for $105,204 to purchase three new cardiac monitors for the fire department ambulances.
At a special town meeting in April, residents approved funding to move forward with the renovation and expansion of the fire headquarters located on Boston Road. After this approval, the Board of Selectmen awarded a contract for the construction of the $2.7 million project to Western Builders, general contractors. The design for the building was completed by Tecton Architects. This funding was accomplished without a Proposition 2 ½ override. Construction began on May 14th with an expected completion date of early 2013. For demolition and construction to commence on fire headquarters, the Fire department moved its entire operations to Station 2 on Woodland Dell Road. Temporary trailers for living and administration were set up in the sideyard. Some of the vehicles were relocated to nearby fire departments during the winter months. Department members once again help the town out by providing manpower with the demolishing of the interior rooms of the first and second floors, so that one wide open space could be ready for reconstruction. This added significant savings to the town instead of paying the contractor to do this work. Other types of work were also handled by the department members.
In January 2013, the department began the process of moving back to Fire Headquarters in phases as construction and renovations to the building were completed. FEMA also awarded a grant for adding onto the current diesel exhaust system for the Fire Headquarters and a new air compressor for filling the firefighter breathing apparatus. The total grant amount was $83,513.
A new Fire Prevention vehicle was placed in service. It was a 2013 Ford Explorer which replaced the 1999 Chevrolet Suburban, Car 2.
In 2014 the department was fully transitioned into the newly remodeled fire headquarters. On many occasions, that year, the fire department hosted open houses, 250th-anniversary events, fire prevention, Red Cross, and youth events. During 2014, the department continued to apply, for and receive Federal, State, and private grants to the Ambulance Fund. Thousands of dollars in needed equipment have been added to the facilities, apparatus, and medical units. The Department staff delivered community education to seniors and schoolchildren using these grant funds.
A new ambulance was placed in service and this vehicle is a Ford E450 Type III ambulance manufactured by Horton Emergency Vehicles. It replaces the 2001 Medic 2.
An old hose cart was donated to the department by Jessie Rice. It was located behind his barn for many years. He stated it was an industrial Hose Cart from the late 1800s and used at the Collins Manufacturing Company here in Wilbraham. CPA funds were appropriated for its restoration and it is now displayed in front of the newly renovated Headquarters.
Training continued to be important and the department logged 2,444 hours of training to maintain and improve proficiency in this same year.
Funding was also restored for the Deputy Fire Chief position which has been vacant for 23 years due to budget restraints. The 2011 tornado and other major weather events that year, prompted the town to look into filling that position so that the department could have a second person in charge instead of having to rely on a shift commander moving up and leaving that position on shift vacant. During these events and others the Fire Chief, who is also the emergency management director for the town, moves up to that role leaving the department without a leader. In addition, the complexity of our operation has changed greatly in the past 23 years, including fire suppression, emergency medical service, Haz-Mat, technical rescue, training, fire prevention, and public education, just to name a few, and has given good justification in filling the position. On normal occasions, the Deputy Chief will oversee all sectors of the day-to-day operations along with planning and emergency management functions, as the assistant emergency management director including being the chair of the local emergency planning committee (LEPC).
The 2013 Fire Prevention vehicle, car 2 was reassigned as the Deputy Chief's vehicle, and the Fire Prevention Officer was reassigned to the 2007 old Chief's vehicle and redesignated as Car 4 when the Chief received a new Ford Explorer in 2014.
2016 was the year that all department members transitioned from state certification to
the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians certification as required by a change in policy from the Massachusetts State Office of Emergency Medical Services.
This same year the department received a total of $3,220 in a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to purchase radio and fire equipment.
On May 15, 2017 town voters approved the new purchase of a combination pumper and
ladder truck. This new vehicle will take the place of two aging vehicles in the department's
fleet, the 1984 Ladder No. 1 and 1994 Engine No. 1. The new“quint” will have both operational capabilities of the two vehicles that are being replaced. This will afford operational efficiencies and savings to the town. A new paint scheme for this ladder truck was approved by the Chief and will be black over red. All new vehicles purchased after this point will be in this new color. Voters that same night also approved the public safety communication system upgrade which the fire department desperately needed.
Health, fitness, and well-being have always been a very real concern for the department firefighters. The department was able to send two Firefighters to a train-the-trainer
Human Performance Workshop. This four-day program focuses on maximizing performance, mental readiness, cardiac health, injury reduction, and cancer prevention. The two trained firefighters are currently providing training for the entire department. This program has had a
profound impact on changing the culture and mentality of the fire service. The department's
goal is to have the department transform into a much healthier, fitter, and safer department which they have successfully done.
Columbia Gas has also donated a multi-gas detector at a cost of $2,000.00. The department always had a strong working relationship with this company and they have been very supportive with training and equipment. In addition, two grant opportunities were afforded to the department. The first is, the department receiving a total of $3,220 from FEMA to purchase radio and fire equipment. The second is $6,547.00 in SAFE and senior grant funds from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security. The SAFE program provides students with first-hand knowledge of the dangers associated with fire and age-appropriate information on fire prevention and surviving fires that occur. The senior program was created with the support of the Legislature to offer funds to local communities in support of senior fire prevention training and is aimed at educating seniors, among the
vulnerable populations at risk.
In 2018 the department started the process of developing specifications for a new ambulance that will be replacing the 2005 Ford/Horton Medic 1. Its arrival should be in mid-2019. The design of this vehicle will be the new standard in going forward with future ambulances. As with the new ladder truck, many hours were allocated to design a vehicle that meets the community’s needs.
On May 14, 2018, voters approved the purchase of two new vehicles, a fire inspector/support, and a rescue vehicle. The new Fire Inspector/Support vehicle, Car 4 will replace the old 2007, Chief's vehicle, Car 1. The new Rescue will replace the old 2008 Rescue.
In August, the Wilbraham Firefighters Local 1847 sponsored a golf tournament fundraiser to appropriate sufficient funds to purchase a gear washer and dryer that meets NFPA 1851 Standards in how fire departments care for their firefighting gear. This new
equipment was donated to the Town by the Wilbraham Firefighters and the Board of
Selectmen accepted this donation on behalf of the Town at their September 10th meeting.
The new ladder truck went into service on October 16th. All department members received extensive training in driver, ladder, and pump operations. This new vehicle has streamlined department operations. This new ladder truck is designated Hook and Ladder Company No. 1, as a tribute to the former Hook and Ladder Company of 1855, which was located in the center of town.
The department received a total of $3,000.00 in a grant from MEMA to purchase mobile radio upgrades for better interoperability with mutual aid partners. In addition to this grant, the department received a total of $6,123.00 in SAFE and Senior grant funds from the
Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security.
A new Emergency Medical Training program was instituted, a regional training initiative with the Longmeadow and Ludlow Fire Departments. This has enabled the department to provide enhanced training for department members, in addition to creating a much easier process for managing the training needs. By streamlining the process, there have been cost savings for all three departments. It has always been Wilbraham's goal to look at various ways in which they do business and having these regional partnerships is just one example. Other fire departments have shown interest in joining this collaboration.
In September 2019, the new ambulance, Medic 1 was put into service. This new vehicle was manufactured by Road Rescue and it is mounted on a Ford F550 chassis. This ambulance is the first Type I ambulance that the department has ever purchased. The two main reasons for this are ease of maintenance and more safety for the occupants in case of a front-end collision. All the members have received training on its operation.
The department received $155,000 in a grant from FEMA to purchase a new self-contained breathing apparatus, SCBA. A committee was formed to evaluate the needs of the members and the options for SCBAs that are available. After many hours of meeting and testing equipment, the committee recommended the MSA brand to the chief. The department purchased these SCBAs with the grant money and received the new equipment. The department received extensive training and after each member was fit-tested, the SCBAs were placed into service in December. This year again the department continued to receive SAFE and Senior grant funds from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and Security.
As with years in the past, the department received a total of $4,000.00 in a grant from MEMA to purchase mobile radio upgrades for better interoperability with mutual partners. This has been a multi-phase process to upgrade all radio equipment so that the town can utilize money elsewhere. In addition, the department purchased two new software programs for incident reporting and staffing. These programs will allow better tracking of the activities in the department. This new software will put inspections, training, and apparatus maintenance under one platform resulting in more efficient record-keeping.
As we close our journey in exploring the history of our beloved fire department. I want to leave you off with the Mission of the Wilbraham Fire Department: Our mission is to minimize personal and community risks from fires, medical emergencies, and other threats to life and
property through prompt emergency response, public education, and code enforcement. In our performance, we will utilize all available resources, placing the highest priority on the preservation of life and health, followed by the protection of property and incident management.
This two-part series is dedicated to all men and women who served and are still serving the George M. Kingdon Fire Company, especially those who are not with us today. Their memories will forever be in our hearts and minds.
Wilbraham Fire Chiefs 1963 - 2019, George M. Kingdon Fire Company
Ralph Tupper, Cyril Woods, Robert Deitz, Robert Macaulay, Joseph Surprenant, Jr., Daniel P. Merritt, Kenneth R. Willette, Francis W. Nothe, David F. Bourcier, and Michael E. Andrews
Wilbraham Board of Fire Commissioners 1963 - 2019, George M. Kingdon Fire Company
W. Chapman, J. Staggs, E. Pederzani, R. Shultz, O. Gilbert, R. Welch, J. Wesley Nowell, A. O'Hara, R. Ladue, J. McGee, J. Moore, R. Bishop, Ms. C. Henning, P. Roche, A. McDonald, J. O'Connor, Raymond Beach, Frank W. Tencza, John N. Sampson, Brad Pinney, Gary Petzold, Ralph Guyer, and Edward Rigney