By Mike Ciampo
The Chester Volunteer Fire Company 1 was organized in 1921 when some local residents banded together to form the fire company. They mounted a chemical tank, owned by one of the members, onto another member’s Pierce Arrow truck chassis to assist in providing the community with fire protection. That pride in serving the community and throughout the department still exists today.
The department is very proud of still owning and operating two beautiful antique pieces of apparatus that they had restored. The first piece of antique apparatus is known as the “Turtle”, a 1959 Dodge Ram Power Wagon which was their first brush and utility truck. The second antique is a 1963 enclosed cab Mack B model pumper known throughout the department as the “B”. Both apparatus are operational and are stored in the older section of the firehouse. They are used in parades, community events and for member’s weddings and funeral services. Maintaining the antique apparatus in this department shows the pride the membership has in preserving the department’s history for years to come.
Pride in the department and its history can also be seen displayed on the apparatus themselves. A unique painting adorns the crew cab door of Engine 1, a 2020 Pierce Enforcer with a 1,500-gpm pump with CAFS capabilities and a 1,000-gallon water tank. The painting is a combined portrait of the original firehouse, then today’s firehouse as it has grown over the years.
The department has also updated the front cab doors on their newer apparatus with a gold leaf lettering design and Maltese Cross. The department also boasts a unique graphic design that incorporates the department’s initials on many of their newer apparatus. The following apparatus have received both updated graphics: Engine 1, Tower 9 a 2022 Pierce Ascendant mid-mount tower ladder with 2,000-gpm pump, Rescue 5 a 2015 Pierce Impel Heavy Rescue and Tender 7 a 2019 Peterbilt with Pierce body and 4,500-gallon water tank. When looking at the graphics, Rescue 5 has a unique painting on the rear roll-up compartment door, which is the Tasmanian Devil holding a Halligan bar in one hand and an extrication spreader in the other while stomping out fire.
Tower 9 is the newest addition to the fleet and the department has also incorporated some of its logos in some nice areas on the apparatus. The bucket of the tower has “T9” on each door while a large CVFC logo adorns the sides of the bucket. The truck’s rear roll-up compartment door signage has Chester Tower 9 Morris County NJ, while the large mudflap has Tower 9 on it. On each side of the tower ladder, the department’s name adorns the large signage in a stars and stripes pattern with serving for 100 years on them. Above the signage, in a utility tool/saw box an American Flag graphic adorns the side of the box. Tower 9’s front grill is painted in a stars and stripe design with NFPA compliant front bumper reflective striping, which also adorns the rear of the apparatus in a chevron design.
The Chester Volunteer Fire Department surely boasts plenty of pride in their history and in their apparatus, both old and new.
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.
