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| Franklin Park Volunteer Fire Company No.l | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1922-1997 75th Anniversary |
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| Highlights for 1990 included the purchase of a new 100 watt radio for the base station and a new storage building built on the back parking lot. In addition, the
truck committee recommended the purchase of a new Sutphen Pumper-Tanker for $250,000 with cab room for ten, a 1,750 GPM pump and a 1,500 gallon water tank. During 1991, the upstairs rental hall was made more accessible to visitors with disabilities with new restrooms in the old section of the building and an access ramp on the east side of the building. The company received its new Sutphen Pumper in June and immediately placed it in service in the substation at the borough building. With the increasing cost required to maintain the 1959 Mack Tanker, the membership approved its sale to the highest bidder for $3,250 and a committee was formed to compile specs to refurbish the 1980 Mack Pumper-Tanker and to replace the 1968 Ward LaFrance Pumper within five years. |
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| SUTPHEN PUMPER- TANKER 1991 SUTPHEN PUMPER- TANKER - 1.750 GPM PUMP - 1,500 GALLON TANK |
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| In early 1992, the Dodge Power Wagon was officially retired after nearly 40 years of service, to be used only for carnival rides and in cases of extreme
emergencies. Throughout the year, the membership volunteered many hours improving the outside property, extending the back parking lot, and planting new shrubs donated by a local nursery for the front of the building. When completed, the work greatly
enhanced the appearance of the building. Additionally, work began to connect the building's sewer system to the municipal sewer system. Adjacent property, including a house on the east side of the main fire hall, was purchased in 1993 to provide a 50 foot right-of-way clearing the way for the eventual sale of property in back of the fire hall and to expand the parking lot. The fire police received six portable radios for better traffic control capable of operating on their own frequency or on the fire frequency with fire officers. To rebuild the 1980 Mack Pumper-Tanker, the membership approved a contract for $43,850 with delivery scheduled for the end of the year |
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| REBUILT 1980 MACK PUMPER- TANKER ? 1,250 GPM PUMP ? 2,500 GALLON TANK |
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| In an innovative financial arrangement, the borough council agreed to guarantee future funding of the fire company with gradually increasing support to reach
$50,000 a year by 1997. In addition, the borough agreed to assume the purchase of all new fire trucks after 1997. An important addition to the company's fire equipment was a new gas detection meter used to confirm carbon monoxide, natural gas, and other toxic gas situations. Before year end, the refurbished 1980 Mack Pumper-Tanker, renamed Tanker 6, was delivered. In 1994, the fire company building earned its designation as the borough's official Emergency Operations Center (EOC) establishing it as a command control center in catastrophic situations. The new HVAC units, purchased for $20,302, were installed on the building's roof. By 1995, the truck committee was hard at work on specs for a new pumper to replace the aging Ward LaFrance Pumper. The committee appointed to buy the new truck recommended that the company purchase a new Sutphen Pumper for almost $250,000 with delivery scheduled for late 1996. The new pumper would be diesel powered, with a 1,750 GPM pump, 800 gallon water tank and cab for six firefighters. To better locate emergencies, the company published street index books, one for each fire truck, with additional books donated to the ambulance authority and police department. After considerable work, the parking lot committee recommended that the entire front, sides and back be paved with asphalt -- an improvement that greatly reduced the chronic problem of mud in the garage. For 1996, new lighting fixtures and ceiling tiles were installed in the new section of the building by the members. A new integral air compressor was purchased to replace the old worn out unit, a 1938 model. The parking lots were completely paved. The 1969 Ward LaFrance Pumper was sold for $16,500 to Glamis Volunteer Fire Company of Cathedral, California. The old Pumper was driven to its new home in California by its new owners including the Glamis fire chief. At the company's annual ball, the Ladies Auxiliary presented a generous check for $10,000 to help pay for the new recently delivered 1996 Sutphen Pumper |
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| 1996 SUTPHEN PUMPER - 1,750 GPM PUMP - 800 GALLON TANK |
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| In 1997, the company was approached by a local developer to swap our piece of property on the south side of Route 910, originally purchased as the site of a
future substation, for a slightly smaller tract on the north side of Route 910 only a quarter-mile away. As part of the deal, the developer agreed to construct a two-bay fire house on the new site at no cost to the fire company. The company's 75th anniversary dinner was held on June 22 with a membership of 67 active firefighters, fire police, and life members... still an all volunteer organization ready to serve the community when the need arises. In years to come, other members, leaders and circumstances will shape the future of this outstanding organization. However, one factor will never change... we respond when called, we serve to the best of our training and ability, and we expect our only reward to be the satisfaction of a " job well done." |
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Email me at:
mark33@nauticom.net
