Quakertown Fire Co. No. 1

Heavy fire on the second floor

At around 2045 hours on November 10th, 2009, the box alarm was struck on box 17-5 for a fire on Richlandtown Pike.  Firefighter Jim Mindler jumped in the driver’s seat of Engine 17-1, the aging Mack CF-600 whose replacement was already in the station being gold-leafed and lettered, and started her up.  The air brake supply may have taken a little longer to fill up than it used to, but otherwise Engine 17-1 was ready to go.

Chief 87 arrived on scene with heavy fire from the second floor of a welding shop.  Engine 17-1 hit a hydrant for the last time and laid the entire bed of 5″ supply line.  Firefighters Bill Weber and Brad Thomas, accompanied by Captain Chris Erwin, stretched a 2.5″ handline to the second floor.  Firefighter John Moyer and Deputy Chief Brian Guenst charged the hydrant.  Crews from Squirt 18 pulled a backup line from Engine 17-1.

“The truck’s first call was a working fire as well,” recalled Battalion Chief David Reinhart as crews stood at the side of Engine 17-1 waiting for

Lines and ladders in service

the fire marshal to finish his investigation.  “We had just put it in service in November of ‘86 when we were dispatched to a rubbish fire at the Quakertown Senior High School.  Crews at the station wanted to take the new engine, but I told them they had to take Engine 17-2, the truck that was due on the call.”

Minutes later Engine 17-1 was dispatched to the Bergey’s Tire fire in Perkasie.  “We drove down main street, lights and sirens, and we beeped and waved to the crew on Engine 17-2.”

Back in 2009, as the fire marshal wrapped up his work at the fire on Richlandtown Pike, the decision was made to take Engine 17-1 out of service since it had laid all of its 5″ hose.  The next day crews packed the 5″ hose onto the new engine.

For 23 years Engine 17-1 has served as the first-due engine to structure fires in the Quakertown Fire Department’s response area.  It will be put up for sale in the coming months.

Small items with large historical significance.

At the business meeting on July 7th, 2008, exempt member and past chief Paul Schultz brought two items of historical significance to the meeting and presented them to the company.

The First Annual Bucks Co. Firemen’s Convention and Parade in 1914. Picture is taken looking East at Front and W. Broad Streets in Quakertown.

The first item is a medallion from the first annual convention of the Firemen’s Association of Bucks County, now better known as the Bucks County Firemen’s Parade, held in Quakertown on June 12th and 13th, 1914. Quakertown Fire Company No. 1 most recently hosted this parade, the 88th of its kind, on June 10th, 2006 in celebration of 100 years of incorporation.

The second item is a rubber stamp bearing the name “Good Will Social Club.” The Good Will Social Club, affectionately known as “The Gluepot,” was a social club owned and operated by the company until the 60s. The club was located along Third Street where the shopping center is now located.

Paul Schultz provided over 35 years of active service to Quakertown Fire Company No. 1 and served as chief of the Quakertown Fire Department.