On August 19th, 2010, members of the Quakertown Fire Company #1 participated in the Veteran’s and Community Expo at Strayer Middle School, held by PA State Senator Bob Mensch and PA State Congressman Paul Clymer. Other organizations there included the U.S. Department of Veteran’s Affairs, SEPTA Police K9 unit, and the PA State Police.
Members in attendance were David Erwin, Scott Jones, Collin Reinhart, Chris Erwin, Bill Weber, and Michele Graziano.
Quakertown Fire Company #1 took delivery of its new Chemical truck on July 30th, 2010. Members have been working diligently to mount equipment on the new truck, and to learn how to operate the new vehicle.
The new truck has been lettered and is almost ready to go in service. Radios will be installed on Monday, August 23rd, and the truck will go into service after the radios are installed.
The new truck replaces the 31-year-old R Model Mack which went into service in 1979. The old Chemical 17 was sold to Pennsburg Fire Company.
The new Chemical 17 combines the equipment from the old Chemical 17, as well as the old Hazmat 17. Features include:
A full list of equimpent will be published this week on our website.
The officers and members of Quakertown Fire Company No. 1 mourn the passing of past Chief Ray Stever, Sr. Ray joined the fire company in 1962 at the age of 16, following in the footsteps of his father Charles O. Stever.
During his 40 years as an active firefighter, Ray served in numerous officer positions, including Lieutenant, Battalion Chief, and Department Chief, as well as Trustee and Safety Officer. In addition to a lifetime dedication to the fire service, Ray served his country in the Vietnam War, serving as a Navy medic assigned to a Marine Battalion.
Ray was a lifetime member of the Bucks County Fire Chiefs and Firefighters Association. Ray was a state-certified fire instructor, as well as a Bucks County fire instructor. Ray’s son, Ray Stever, Jr., was also a firefighter with Quakertown Fire Company No. 1 for many years.
Ray remained actively involved with the fire company, even as an exempt member, up until his death. Even after his time as an active firefighter, Ray was often asked back to teach drills, focusing on various areas of his expertise, including water supply and fire extinguishers. He often attended business meetings and social events, and was a member of the current Chemical 17 Replacement Committee.
Ray was an invaluable asset to the Quakertown Fire Company No. 1 and the Quakertown Fire Department, and will be greatly missed by all officers and members.
Calling hours for Ray will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church on North Hellertown Avenue in Quakertown, from 7-9pm on Friday, March 5th, and 9-10:30am on Saturday, March 6th. Services will be held at Trinity Lutheran Church at 11am on Saturday, March 6th.
At 31 years old, Chemical 17 is well beyond its 25 year scheduled replacement. Built in 1979, the R-model Mack has served tirelessly to provide much needed compressed breathing air, electricity, chemical firefighting agents, and hazmat support at thousands of emergencies.
Built in 1990, the 20-year-old Utility 17 pickup truck tows the 22-year-old hazmat trailer to hazardous materials emergencies; the combination carrying the designation of Hazmat 17.
The time has come to replace Chemical 17. Beginning two years ago, a committee was formed to design the replacement truck and the decision was made to combine the equipment on the current Chemical 17 with the equipment on Hazmat 17. In order to so, the committee chose Spartan Motor Corporation’s largest heavy rescue chassis on which to build a custom-designed body.
The new Chemical 17 will carry equipment for many roles, including filling SCBA cylinders with breathing air, generating electricity, lighting and ventilation, hazmat and spill control, decontamination, chemical fire supression, trapped firefighter rescue – known as rapid intervention, vehicle rescue support, and of course structure fire support.
Completion of the new truck is expected to be mid-summer.
New Chemical stats:
The Quakertown Fire Department was dispatched for a “truck” fire on Tollgate Road in Richland Township. Chief 87 arrived on scene with a camper in the rear of a dwelling with the house as an exposure. Squirt 18 went in service with two lines. Engine 17-1 supplied Squirt 18. Crews checked the house for extension.
The Quakertown Fire Department was dispatched to a kitchen fire at a residence in Richland Township. The fire was extinguished upon arrival but had damaged the cabinets and wall. Crews checked for extension and ventilated the dwelling.
The Quakertown Fire Department was dispatched to a dwelling fire in Richland Township. Battalion 18 reported medium smoke from the second floor. Engine 17-1, newly in service, arrived on scene and pulled a 1.75″ line to the interior. Tower 18 in service with ventilation. Squirt 18 pulled a backup line. Engine 17 supplied Engine 17-1. Crews extinguished a bathroom fire on the second floor.
Station 49 was operating at a dwelling fire in Bedminster Township and requested Chemical 17 a few hours in to relieve the RIT team and assist with overhaul.
The Quakertown Fire Department was dispatched for a working dwelling fire on Thursday, November 19th. Chief 87 arrived on location with a 2 1/2 story dwelling with heavy fire in the rear. Engine 36 laid in and pulled a line to the interior. Tower 18 went in service with ventilation and crews from Engine 17 and Squirt 18 pulled a backup lines. Rescue 18 and Chemical 17 assisted with overhaul. Rescue 58 and Montgomery County Ladder 65 were RIT.
The new Engine 17-1
The new engine to replace the 1986 Mack CF engine has arrived and has been outfitted with all of its equipment. The officers are in the process of qualifying the company’s drivers on the new truck and will soon place it in service as Engine 17-1.
The new engine is the result of a two year process of research, planning, and design by the Engine Replacement Committee. The committee has spent two years meeting, traveling to area fire companies, and traveling to Swab in Elizabethville, PA in order to bring the project together. The committee members are Deputy Chief Brian Guenst, Battalion Chief David Reinhart, Captain Chris Erwin, Lieutenant Mike Hellyer, Lieutenant David Erwin, Chief Engineer Brian Fluck, and firefighters Greg McDermott, Bill Weber, and Matt Kershes.
Spacious compartments on the new engine
The specifications of the new engine are as follows:
Loading equipment onto the new engine
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