Syracuse FD Rescue & More . . .

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The story of the Syracuse Fire Department Rescue Company started in 1933, with a 1925 Obenchain-Boyer engine (#37706) that had been one of the three apparatus acquired when the City of Syracuse annexed the Village of Eastwood on its eastern border. The unit served briefly as SFD Engine 17, then as Engine 15 until August, 1930. As Chief Edward Geiselman saw the need for a supplementary company to assist the SFD’s engines and trucks, he saw that other cities were beginning to utilize “flying squads” for additional manpower, or, as the FDNY had done since 1915, organized specially-equipped “rescue companies”.  Chief Geiselman decided that this was the way to go, and the former Eastwood engine was converted by the department’s own shops into a Light & Squad Truck. This unit was equipped with a separate Kohler 4-cylinder engine driving a 2.0 kW 110-volt DC generator. The rig carried two gas masks, an oxygen mask, an inhalator, salvage covers, two 750-watt spotlights, four 250-watt portable spotlights, and over 1100 feet of electrical cord. The new Light Squad Company, manned by 3 to 4 men per shift, was placed in service on December 1, 1933 and quickly proved itself responding to major alarms and emergencies.  

 

 



 

By 1940 It  became apparent, however, that the open- cab unit was extremely underpowered – the Federal chassis produced only 33 horsepower (about the same as an early Volkswagen). It was decided that a larger, more powerful apparatus was required – and one with more compartment space for the ever-increasing complement of equipment that the company was beginning to carry. Unfortunately, war was on the horizon and new apparatus exceedingly hard to come by. In spite of these obstacles, in October of 1941 a new Light Squad truck was delivered, built on a 1941 Chevrolet AJ 4-door 185” WB chassis (#5632) , with a fully-enclosed rear body built by the local Salina Body Works. Costing $4,234, it featured a 129 HP motor, and a 5 kW generator. In addition, a full complement of spotlights, electrical cable, torches and salvage equipment were carried in the rig’s multiple compartments.

 



 



 

This modern unit gave exceptional service throughout the trying war years, and as the immediate post-war world moved forward, it reached the point where the amount of equipment this rig was carrying started to exceed its safe capacity . . . plus, the mission of the company itself had evolved as well. It was time to move away from the "Light and Squad" concept, and fully embrace the idea of a dedicated, specialized Rescue Company.