NANUET FIRE DEPARTMENT RETIRED APPARATUS

Throughout its history, the Nanuet Fire Department has carefully chosen fire fighting apparatus that best served the needs of the community at the time. There have been twenty-six pieces of apparatus since the Department's inception in 1860. Seven remain in active service today.  Below is the story of the nineteen others that shaped the histrory of the Nanuet Fire Department.

1861

ERKES & ONDRDONK

HAND PUMPER

Purchased in 1861 from the Erkes & Ondrdonk Company, this was the Nanuet Fire Engine Company's first piece of firefighting equipment.  It was purchased at a cost of $188.85, a very hefty price in those days.  The picture below depicts what it might have looked like, but there are no known images of the original hand pumper.

The hand pumper was in service from 1861 until 1862. 

1862

SIDE STROKE GOOSENECK 

HAND DRAWN PUMPER

Built in 1846 by James Smith, this hand pumper was originally purchased in 1851 by the nearby Piermont Fire Department.  In 1862 it was purchased by Nanuet to replace the original hand pumper, which had proven ineffective for firefighting.  This was the first apparatus to carry a portrait of the Indian Chief, “Chief Nannewitt", for whom the Hamlet of Nanuet is named.

This hand pumper was in service from 1862 until 1906.

In the 1950's Walter Beatty found the old pumper, hardly recognizable in its poor state of un-repair and lovingly spent many hours restoring it to its former beauty.  When he was finished restoring the old pumper, it was given to the New York City Fire College to be displayed in the New York City Fire Museum that was located in Greenwich Village in New York City.  The pumper is now on display at the Rockland County Firemen’s Museum in Pomona at the Rockland County Fire Training Center.  It still bears the portrait of Chief Nannewitt.

1906

AMERICAN LaFRANCE

STEAM ENGINE 

Just after the turn of the century, the Nanuet Fire Company heard about a recently invented steam powered pumper.  In 1906 a committee was formed and sent to examine this new steam engine, the American LaFrance.  They had gone strictly to view this new engine and to see how it worked, but liking what they saw very much, the committee purchased one on the spot.

The American LaFrance steam engine was in service from 1906 until the 1920's.

After the World War I was over, and the firemen who served in the military returned home, the department decided on modernization.  For this purpose, they purchased a motorized unit from L. Covert of New City.  While this was Nanuet’s first motorized automotive fire engine, it was anything but new.  The engine was a rebuilt Haynes car, upon which the hose engine had been fitted.  Even though the department was able to get to a fire more efficiently and faster, they did not abandon the old steam engine.  Instead, they kept it for emergency use.  This began the practice of having a backup unit on hand at all times.

1921

SEAGRAVE

MOTORIZED PUMPER

In the early 1920's, the department felt the need for new equipment, and ordered a new motorized fire engine.  The Seagrave was built in Atlanta, Georgia, and was completed on September 20th 1921.  The Seagrave was a "Suburbanite" model, Serial Number 29466, and was delivered to Nanuet towards the end of 1921.  The Seagrave had a 100 gallon on board water tank, allowing the fire department to bring water to the fire, instead of relying on getting water from a nearby pond or stream.  This engine also had a 500 Gallons-per-Minute (GPM) pump.  As the hamlet of Nanuet grew during the 1920's, so did the need for upgraded fire protection.  The Seagrave was eventually found to be sub-standard for the department's needs and in the early 1930's the fire company worked toward purchasing a newer and more capable fire engine.

The Seagrave engine was in service from 1921 until it was replaced in 1933. 

1933

PETER PIRSCH

PUMPER

Originally, the fire company wanted a Seagrave like the previous one, but due to some "shady business" going on in the Seagrave company in the early 1930’s, the fire company refused to deal with them and so a Peter Pirsch pumper was purchased. The new pumper was built in 1933 by the Peter Pirsch & Sons Company in Kenosha, Wisconsin.  Equipped with a larger 750 GPM pump, and a water tank that was double in size from the previous Seagrave, the Pirsch pumper was well equipped to meet the fire department’s needs.

The Peter Pirsch was in service from 1933 until 1954.

1940

DIAMOND T / SEALAND

PUMPER

Purchased in 1939 from the Sealand Company in Bridgeport, Connecticut, this truck did not replace the 1933 Peter Pirsch but instead this was the first time that Nanuet had more than one motorized fire truck.  The Sealand had a 500 GPM pump and a 200 gallon water tank.  It carried 1000 ft of 2 ½ inch hose and 500 ft of 1 ½ inch hose.  The truck also had a 35 gallon foam tank, a full complement of first-aid equipment, and an on-board electrical generator with large flood lights.  This truck could be considered the first rescue pumper Nanuet ever owned, as for the first time, the apparatus carried more than just fire supression equipment.

The Sealand was in service from 1940 until 1956.

1947

WARD LaFRANCE

PUMPER

In 1947, Nanuet took delivery of the first of three Ward LaFrances that it would purchase over the next 10 years.  They named it the “Quad” because it carried four catagories of equipment.  It held 1) a pump, 2) an on board water tank, 3) fire hose, and 4) ground ladders.  The '47 LaFrance had a 750 GPM pump, a 150 gallon water tank, over 1000 feet of hose, and 240 feet worth of ground ladders.  Nanuet now had 3 pumpers (1933 Peter Pirch, 1940 Sealand & 1947 Ward LaFrance) to respond to fires and other emergencies within the community.

The Quad was in service from 1947 until 1965.

1954

WARD LaFRANCE

PUMPER

(8-750)

Purchased in early 1954, this was the second Ward LaFrance pumper that Nanuet operated.  This pumper was purchased for $17,600, but part of the bill was paid for under a Civil Defense arrangement from the federal government.  It was equipped with a 750 GPM pump, a 250 gallon booster tank, 2000 feet of 2 ½ inch hose, 350 feet of 1 ½ inch hose, and 12 foot and 24 foot aluminum ladders.  The 1954 pumper was Nanuet's first truck to be given a radio designation under the brand new Rockland County radio system.  It was designated 8-750; the first number (8) designating the department (Nanuet is the eighth department in the county alphabetically), and the numbers after the dash usually designating the pump size of the truck (750).  The Ward LaFrance replaced the 1933 Peter Pirsch pumper.

The 8-750 was in service from 1954 until 1987

In 1987 it was retired from firefighting duties and purchased by the Nanuet Fire Engine Company from the Nanuet Fire District.  It was sent out to be fully refurbished and still today remains in excellent shape.  The "antique", as it is now called, can be seen at various Nanuet Fire Department events, and at competitive parades where it has won countless trophies and awards.  It also has the distinct high honor of carrying the caskets of our deceased members during a funeral procession.

1956

WARD LaFRANCE

PUMPER

(8-751)

Delivered on 4/18/1956, this was the last of the 3 Ward LaFrances to be delivered.  This truck was also purchased under the same Civil Defense arrangement as the 1954 LaFrance.  The new LaFrance was radio designated as 8-751 because 8-750 was already taken.  It was equipped with a 750 GPM pump, a 300 gallon water tank, and hoses and ladders similar to the other Ward LaFrance’s.

This truck replaced the 1940 Sealand Pumper, and the 8-751 was in service from 1956 until 1976.

THE TWIN MAXIM TRUCKS

The 1960’s saw our small hamlet continue to grow. 

Nanuet had not only gained many residences, but there was a tremendous business growth.

The Nanuet Mall had opened where College Garden was (Route 59 and Middletown Road). 

Nanuet had now become the business hub of Rockland County. 

The department realized this and in 1965 took delivery of a new Maxim pumper as well as a Maxim Equipment truck.

1965

MAXIM

RESCUE - PUMPER

(8-EQ)

The first of its kind in Nanuet, this equipment truck was very unique in the fact that it was a rescue truck and a pumper all in one. The 8-EQ was almost self-sufficient, and for this reason Nanuet decided make this the first responding truck to all fires and emergencies.  This practice still continues today, and because it was an equipment truck, they decided to give it the radio designation of 8-EQ.  It was equipped with a 500 GPM pump, a 500 gallon water tank, and an on board generator with scene lights.

The EQ was in service from 1965 until 1981 when it was replaced with the Sanford EQ.

1965

MAXIM

PUMPER

(8-1000)

Delivered in September of 1965, this Maxim was purchased as an additional fire engine to serve the growing community of Nanuet.  At this point Nanuet now operated 4 fire engines.  The 8-1000 was equipped with a 1000 GPM pump and a 300 gallon tank. The Maxim was originally delivered with a canopy cab, but was refurbished in 1972 to a hard top rear open cab as seen in the picture below.

The 8-1000 was in service from 1965 until 1988.

1969

YOUNG / PITMAN

ARTICULATING PLATFORM

(8-75)

NANUET GETS ITS FIRST LADDER TRUCK

The construction boom of the 1960’s saw the residential hamlet of Nanuet grow into a large concentration of mercantile stores and shopping centers.  For this reason, the firemen decided they needed a tower ladder to properly protect Nanuet from commercial building fires.  The Snorkel, as it was called, was a three way articulating platform, capable of reaching 75 feet above the ground.  For this reason it was given the radio designation 8-75.

The elevated platform could carry over 800 pounds in the bucket, and bring firemen to the upper floors of tall buildings, or the roof of other buildings.  The truck had no pump or on board water tank, but it had a pre-piped water way that went all the way up the boom, to give the ability to spray water from the bucket.  The snorkel carried 220 feet of ground ladders, axes, hooks, ropes, and other tools for search and rescue.  With the addition of the new ladder truck, Nanuet now operated 3 pumpers, 1 Equipment truck, and 1 ladder truck.  8-75 remained in service for an amazing 28 years, the longest any Nanuet fire truck has stayed in active use.

The 8-75 was in service from 1969 until 1997, when it was replaced by the current 8-TOWER.  

After it was sold, its where-abouts were unknown for several years until it was recently discovered in Marion, Virginia, as seen below.

1972

YOUNG / BISON

PUMPER

(8-1500)

Purchased in the early 1970’s, this pumper was another additional pumper to help serve the community of Nanuet.  The Nanuet Fire Department fleet now consisted of 4 pumpers, 1 EQ, and 1 Ladder truck.  The new pumper was given the radio designation of 8-1500, and it was specifically built to be the 2^nd due pumper or "hydrant truck".  This truck had the largest pump of all the fire engines that Nanuet owned at the time.  Equipped with a 1500 GPM high pressure pump, and a 350 gallon on board water tank, this truck was the workhorse of the department for many years.  It was also one of the fastest in the county, and after being placed in service the power was found to be too much for its braking system, so an exhaust retarder, or “Jake-Brake” was installed to help the truck stop.  Engine breaks or “Jake-Breaks” are still used on most fire and large trucks in order to help them slow down while braking.  This braking system is what gives off the loud noise when the truck decelerates.

The 8-1500 was in service from 1972 until 2001 when it was traded in to American LaFrance.

After being traded to American LaFrance in 2001, the where-abouts of this truck were unknown for a few years until it was spotted at Raceway Park in Englishtown, NJ as seen below:

The addition of a railing around the hose bed suggests that it was not being used for firefighting, but rather as a transport or "hayride" vehicle.  The paint has lost its luster due to permanent outdoor storage, however the trademark Indian head is still visible on the door as well as the "8-1500" painted on the nose.

1976

FORD / YOUNG

PUMPER

(8-1001)

Delivered in the summer of 1976, this pumper was built to replace the 1956 Ward LaFrance pumper (8-751). It had a 1000 GPM pump and a 500 gallon on board water tank.  This truck had 2 unique qualities; it was equipped with a mid-mount pump, where the pump operator actually stands on the truck to operate, and it the ability to pump water and drive at the same time.  This truck was radio designated 8-1001, because it had a 1000 GPM pump, but there was already a truck designated the 8-1000, so they called it the “1001”.

The 1001 was in service from 1976 until late 2004, when it was purchased by a company in New Orleans to use as a float for Mardi Gras parades.  Unfortunately, its status after 2005's devistating Hurricane Katrina is unknown.

1981

WHITE / SANFORD

RESCUE - PUMPER

(8-EQ)

After serving the Nanuet Fire Department for 16 years as a first due fire truck, the 1965 Maxim EQ was in need of replacement.  A new EQ was designed and built in 1980 and delivered in May of 1981.  This truck inherited the radio designation 8-EQ, and as keeping with tradition, the new EQ was the first-due fire truck to all emergency calls in Nanuet.  This EQ was the first truck delivered with the “Jaws of Life” Hurst Rescue tools, for extricating people out of vehicles after a car accident.  It was also equipped with a 250 GPM pump, a 500 gallon on board water tank, as well as 2 pre-connected hand lines and a booster reel.

The Sanford was in service from 1981 until 1992.

The 1981 Sanford, was sold to the Poestenkill fire department, in Rensselaer County, NY (see photo below):

1988

SIMON / DUPLEX / YOUNG

PUMPER

(8-1250)

Delivered in 1988, this truck replaced the 1965 Maxim (8-1000), which was in service for over 20 years.  This pumper was given the radio designation of 8-1250, as it had a 1250 GPM pump and a 500 gallon water tank.  After serving many years as the 2^nd due pumper and mutual aid truck, the 1250 was sent to Saulsbury in 1998 to get refurbished, Among several upgrades, a set of pre-connected Hurst rescue tools was installed.  The truck was refurbished to become a rescue-pumper and then it found its new home as the sole responding truck out of the newly built sub-station in Bardonia.  The 1250 responded out of the sub-station (8-101) until it was retired in 2008, when it was sold to the Homer Volunteer Fire Department in Ohio. (See Below)

The 1250 was in service from 1988 until 2008.

 After it was retired and  sold to the Homer Volunteer Fire Department in Ohio

1991

SIMON DUPLEX / RD MURRAY

PUMPER

(8-1501)

Originally designed as a second due "hydrant truck", the 1991 RD Murray Pumper was equipped with a 1500 gallon per minute pump, 750 gallon water tank and a full selection of preconnected handlines.  It was given the radio designation of 8-1501 because the 8-1500 was still in service at this time.  Admired for its "traditional" looks, the 1501 was also the pumper that escorted the Nanuet Fire Engine Company in many different parades.  In its 24 years of service, it won countless trophies and awards.

The 1501 was in service from 1991 until 2015.

After being sold in 2015, it was purchased by the Huntington Volunteer Fire Department located in Arkansas. (See below)

1992

SIMON DUPLEX / SAULSBURY

RESCUE-PUMPER

(8-EQ)

Custom built for the Nanuet Fire Department, this rescue pumper was built with the specific intention of replacing the 1981 EQ.  The new rescue pumper inherited the call sign 8-EQ (the third truck given this radio designation) and it also inherited the responsibility of being Nanuet’s first due fire truck.  The EQ was the department workhorse throughout most of the 1990’s responding to close to 10,000 calls during its years of service.  It was equipped with a 1000 gpm pump and a 750 gallon on-board water tank, which operated [2] 200 foot pre-connected crosslays, as well as a front “trash line” for car fires or dumpster fires.

This EQ was in service from 1992 until March of 2005.

After being retired in 2005 and sold soon after, it still sees service with the Wheatland, PA fire department, although it sports a new paint job!

As of February 2018 the truck is still in service with the Wheatland Fire Department (Station 72) 

1997 

SIMON DUPLEX / SAULSBURY / LTI

AERIAL PLATFORM

(8 - TOWER)

8-Tower was a 1997 Simon - Duplex / Saulsbury / LTI. It featured a 75' aerial platform with 2 deluge guns fed by a 1500gpm pump, a full compliment of ground ladders, 1000' 5" LDH hose and a 250 gallon water tank.  The Tower frequently responded to mutual aid calls from our surrounding communities as seen in some of the pictures below.

8 - Tower was in service from 1997 until September of 2019.

After retirement 8-Tower was sold to the Roscoe - Rockland Fire Department in Sulivan County, upstate New York. 

2005 

AMERICAN LaFRANCE

RESCUE-PUMPER 

(8 - EQ)

The 2005 American LaFrance Rescue / Pumper was the fourth fire truck in Nanuet Fire Company history to inherited the radio designation of 8-EQ when it was placed in service in March of 2006.  8-EQ is the first responding apparatus from our main firehouse to all emergency calls.  "The EQ" is equipped with 2, 200' 1 3/4" and 1, 200' 2 1/2" preconnected attack lines fed by a Hale 1000 gpm pump, a 750 gallon water tank and 50 gallon foam tank.  It also carries a full compliment of HURST "Jaws of Life" hydraulic and air powered rescue tools.  The EQ was cerimoniously named "The Commander" after late ex-chief Ernie Giraudin who passed away shortly after its delivery.

This 8-EQ (The 4th) was in service from 2005 - 2022

After being retired in early 2022, the 2005 EQ was sold to the McClusky Fire Protection District in rural ND.