By:  Mike "FortunateSon" Chrvala
 

In Part I of this article, I shared some history from the 1940’s and 50’s from Irvington. Part II picks up where we left off, with a look at the rigs that were running through the “War Years” of the 1960’s and 70’s. The department saw its responses increase with the civil unrest of the late 60’s, and as part of a mutual aid agreement, it responded to the Newark riots of 1967.  

This is Engine 1, a 1952 Mack L model at Station 1. It was equipped with a 750 GPM pump and had a 250 gallon booster tank. Originally open cabbed, the plywood “riot roof” over the cab and rear step was a installed by the department to protect the firefighters from the various objects thrown at them and the apparatus.

Engine 1 outside the Training Tower

Here is Engine 4 on the street. While almost identical to E1, E4 was a 1950 L model

Another shot of E4, from the officers side

Engine 3 was obviously different from 1 & 4. A Civil Defense rig, this particular rig was nicknamed “The Flying Nun” due to the white paint and similarity between the riot roof and a nun’s habit seen in the Sally Field television show of the time. She was a 1952 Mack L with 750 GPM capacity and a 250 gallon booster tank. This shot was taken outside Station 4 on Grove Street."
 

The Flying Nun from a different angle

A shot from a vintage fire, with the Pirsch aerial operating in the background and Truck 1, (at this time an ALF) in the fore. Note the wooden roof over the aerial’s cab and the rear step of the engine to the left.

Another job shot: I believe this one is from the New Jersey Charcoal Fire, that shows the Mack C version of the Squad in operation. Obviously this was quite a fire, and it involved freight cars on the tracks next to the building.

Another working fire, this from the Olympic Park job of 1969. Olympic Park was a regional entertainment park—sort of the precursor to Disney World. It was huge, and successful for a long time, but closed in 1967 due to falling revenues. The park was abandoned, and in 1969 a fire was started in the bathhouses and fun house. Due to high winds, embers set the tall grass on fire, which spread towards the apparatus that had responded. This ladder truck, (which I believe to be the American LaFrance Truck 1 seen in the picture above), was damaged by the fire, but it was saved. My father ended up in the hospital that night, suffering from burns and smoke inhalation.

This concludes Part II of the Second Alarm, and I appreciate all the feedback I have received so far. Part III will be up shortly, and will feature more Macks and Wards, along with a Pierce Snorkel, Pirsch rearmount, and some other unique rigs.

Part 1  |  Part 2  |  Part 3  |  Part 4