On December 8, the new Maxim 100 foot steel aerial ladder truck was delivered. This also is the first automatic diesel powered ladder truck to be purchased. It went in service on December 20, as Ladder 1. This new ladder truck has a total of 227 feet of aluminum ground ladders, a 200 gallon tank with a 250 gpm pump and 250 feet of 3/4 inch booster hose.
The 1955 American LaFrance 85 foot steel Aerial ladder truck was reassigned as Ladder 2 in reserve status and relocated to the Greenwood Fire Station.
The year 1975 ended with a record 2319 alarms, divided into 429 box alarms and 1890 still alarms.
The first cold weather survival suits, constructed of orange foam rubber, for water and ice rescue purposes were purchased in November, 1976.
On April 28, 1976, a smoky 2:28 P.M. fire in foam rubber required three alarms to control at Hood Industries, Inc., 14 Audubon Road. The toxic fumes felled six firefighters, who needed emergency treatment.
On March 24, box 2121 transmitted at 11:14 A.M. for a fire that caused total loss to St. Joseph’s Church on Tuttle Street. The four-alarm fire, drawing aid from 16 communities, started at the rear of the aluminum sided frame building and extended along the cockloft and up to the top of the 135 foot steeple. Loss was estimated at about $2 million.
In the early hours of June 8, a suspicious two-alarm fire caused heavy damage to Fran’s Restaurant, and the old G.A.R. Hall building at 7 Foster Street where it was located.
On December 15, 1977, two Hurst “Jaws of Life” portable power rescue tools arrived and were placed on Ladder 1. The jaw-like units have a force of 10,000 lbs. and 12,000 lbs. and work from a 5-horsepower engine and piston pump. These versatile rescue tools with all accessories were purchased at a cost of $8300.77 by public subscription.
The worst blizzard to occur in modern history blanketed southern New England and the Boston area with a record 29-inches falling on top of several inches of existing snow with hurricane force winds on February 7, 1978. Fire Departments were taxed to their limits. Wakefield had two shifts of firefighters, a total of 26 men on duty, from February 7 through 11. Three engines and one ladder were in service at headquarters; one engine and one ladder were in service at the Greenwood Station.
A three-alarm fire at 384-390 Main Street, transmitted at 1:37 A.M. on February 19, 1978, caused heavy damage to this one-story block of stores at the corner of Princess Street. The tenants were the Crystal Sandwich Shop, Crystal Fruit, King of Beef and Smith’s Drug store. The fire, a result of arson, caused $250,000 in damage.
A contract was awarded to Mack Trucks in Macungi, PA on July 20, 1978 to purchase a new pumping engine at a cost of $72,789. The new pumper arrived on August 28, 1979 and was placed in service as Engine 2 at the Greenwood Station on September 13, 1978. The 1000 8pm pumper has a 500 gallon water tank and carried 800 feet of 2 1/2 inch hose and 750 feet of 3-inch hose. The new engine replaced the 1954 American LaFrance, which was sold to a Florida fire apparatus equipment dealer.
