By Mike Ciampo
The town of Cortlandville is located in the western section of Cortland County, New York, situated between the cities of Syracuse and Binghamton. The town is in the former Central New York Military Tract, which was established at the end of the Revolutionary War. Two million acres were set aside to compensate New York’s soldiers after participating in the War of Independence. Interstate 81 travels through the town and it is quite a picturesque ride through the rolling hills, mountains and fields. Although the town is primarily a residential town, it has its areas of industrial buildings and commercial establishments, while sitting just outside the city of Cortland.
Like many other fire departments, it was created due to a horrible tragedy. The town never had its own fire department and was covered under a financial contract with the Homer and McGraw fire departments. Unfortunately in 1973, after a tragic loss of four lives in a single family renovated residence with casement windows throughout, the town supervisor saw the immediate need for a creation of its own fire department. Just after the fire, the Homer Fire Department graciously agreed to move two of its fire apparatus (a pumper and tanker) into the town. Luckily, a building was being built for the water department adjacent to Town Hall, but it quickly became the new home for the newly created Homer Hose Company 4. With the creation of the company, training new members and relocation of others was in full swing and on Jan. 1, 1974 the firehouse began its operation. A few months after the company’s initial operation, the town supervisor passed away unexpectedly. The members felt he spearheaded the efforts to provide fire protection to the citizens of the town and formally adopted the name “Frank K. Taylor Hose Company #4” of the Homer Fire Department. At midnight on December 31, 1981, the company resigned from the Homer Fire Department and on Jan. 1, 1982 the Cortlandville Fire Department began its operation.
Engine Company 1301 is a 2012 Rosenbauer Commander with an aluminum extrusion cab. According to Rosenbauer, it was one of the first Commanders to roll off the assembly line. The department nearly runs a whole fleet of Rosenbauer apparatus and is sold on its sterling stainless steel bodies. Engine 1301 runs first due out of the department’s fire headquarters station located on Route 13. The engine has a 1,500-gpm pump and a 1,000-gallon water tank. The rig is painted in a black-over-lime-green scheme on the cab and rear body of the apparatus. It’s reflective striping runs low along the front portion of the cab and then makes a “Z” pattern upwards along the crew cab doors. The stripe pattern continues horizontally along the rear portion of the apparatus just above the midpoint of the body. What’s unique here is that it has a matching stripe design running along the lower portion of the body. The rear of the rig has compliant DOT chevron safety striping as well as the front extended bumper.
The rear hose bed is covered with a diamond plate canopy with a small safety tarp at the rear which prevents any hose from discharging during a run. The rear lower compartment is set up for hitting a hydrant with a large water valve, a hydrant tool and appliance vinyl pouch and a shovel for removing snow during the winter months. In the compartment above this one, is an electric reel, junction box, electrical pig tails and reciprocal saw. In the upper sections of the body on both sides are hard suctions for drafting. The vertical compartment on the rear holds the rig’s complement of ladders and hooks. The right rear compartment is classified as its forcible entry compartment and it has two roll-out tool trays. The bottom tray has three types of closet hooks stored on it, a Hydra-Ram hydraulic forcible entry tool by Fire Hooks Unlimited, a K-Tool Kit and a small pair of bolt cutters. In the upper tray the following equipment is stored: two sets of irons are married together, a sledgehammer and short New York Roof Hook are stored. Just above these shelves, the rig’s Stokes Basket and bridle are stored. In the left rear compartment the lower shelf carries two Tempest Power Blowers, one is electrically powered and the other gasoline powered. On the shelf above these fans, sits two Stihl saws, one chain and one rotary saw. There are also additional blades, safety equipment for saw operations and two containers of absorbent.
Station 13 maintains all of its apparatus in pristine condition and has plenty of pride in them. You’ll also notice this when you first pull into the firehouse and see their Attack Dawg logos mounted on the side of the building.
Michael N. Ciampo is a 37-year veteran of the fire service and a Lieutenant in the Fire Department of New York. Previously he served with the District of Columbia Fire Department. He has a bachelor’s degree in fire science from John Jay College of Criminal Justice. He is the lead instructor for FDIC International Truck Essentials HOT program. He wrote the Ladders and Ventilation chapters for Fire Engineering’s Handbook for Firefighter 1 & 2 and the Bread and Butter Portable Ladders DVD. He writes the back page column On Fire in Fire Engineering and is featured in Training Minutes truck company videos on FireEngineering.com. Recently he wrote the textbook Tower Ladders, Tactics, Tips & Tales.
