- photo by Tara Bithia
LAFAYETTE SQUARE FIRE HOUSE
built 1894
Engine Company #2 - Truck Company #3 - Squad #2
- photo by Tara Bithia
378 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139
Engine Company #2 Semi Automatic External Defibrillator equipped Engine Company #2 was established in 1846 and was located in a wood fire house on Main Street. The company at this time was named Union Engine Company #2. In 1851, this fire house was destroyed by fire. In 1852, Engine 2 occupied a new brick fire house at 789 Main Street, near the corner of Windsor. Union Engine Company 2 shared these quarters with Franklin Hook and Ladder Company #1.(This fire house is still standing and is the current home of the Christian Holiness Mission Church.) The company's apparatus was a Howard and Davis hand engine. During 1863, the house was remodeled and horse stalls were installed. On 1 August 1863, Engine 2 placed into service an Amoskeag, horse-drawn, second size 400 gpm steamer. In 1872, the company received a new 4-wheel , horse-drawn, hose carriage which had been built by Jones Company. The hose carriage carried 1000 feet of hose. On 28 November 1873, a new Amoskeag 700 gpm steamer was placed in service and in 1892, an Abbot and Downing hose wagon was placed in service. On 6 February 1894, Engine 2 moved into new quarters on Front Street opposite Main Street. (Front Street was later renamed Massachusetts Avenue.) Over a hundred years later, this is the current quarters of Engine 2 at 378 Massachusetts Avenue. In 1907, Engine 2 and Engine 6 swapped pumps. Engine 2 now was assigned an1891, Amoskeag 900 gpm steam pump. In 1919, the company was motorized. The 1891 Amoskeag steamer was equipped with a type 31, American LaFrance tractor. A new American LaFrance type 40 hose wagon was placed in service as the wagon. A new American LaFrance 750 gpm pump was assigned to the company in 1926. In June of 1948, a new Pirsch 1000 gpm pump was placed in service by Engine 2 and in July of 1948, a new GMC/Robinson hose wagon was placed in service. In July of 1951, a new Pirsch 1000 gpm pump was placed in service and in July of 1966, a new International/Farrar hose wagon was placed in service. Engine 2 placed a new Pirsch 1250 gpm pump in service on 26 July 1978. The company placed in service a new International/Maxim hose wagon on 23 July 1982. On 1 April 1984, Engine 2 became a single unit company as the wagon was reassigned to Engine 4. On 16 May 1986, a new International/Saulsbury hose wagon was assigned to Engine 2. On 12 May 1988, this wagon was reassigned to Engine 4. Engine 2 again became a single-unit company. On the 12th of August 1989, a new Pierce Lance 1250 gpm (with 500 gallon water tank) was placed in service by Engine 2. The 1978 pump was reassigned to Engine 8. Currently, the company runs a 2002 Pierce Saber 1250 gpm pump with a 500 gallon water tank. The 1989 Pierce was designated as Engine 11 and is now a spare pump. Engine 2 Photo Gallery
Engine 2's 1989 Pierce Lance all photos above from the collection of Ed Morrissey Engine 2 Annual Statistics
*In 2001/02, the definition of a building fire was modified. For more information on Engine 2, contact the captain: Captain Lawrence M. Brogan e-mail address: lbrogan@cambridgefire.org
Squad #2
Paramedic service was initiated by the Cambridge Fire Department on 1 May 2005.
Squad #2 runs out of the quarters of Engine Company #2 in
Lafayette Square and Squad #4 runs out of the quarters of
Engine Company #4 in North Cambridge. Each squad is staffed by 2 Fire
Department members, with at least one paramedic (usually 2) on duty. Rescue
Company #1 is also a full ALS unit, with at least one (and usually 2)
paramedic/firefighters on duty in each group.
In addition to Emergency Medical Service Advanced Life Support supplies and
equipment, each rig is equipped with firefighting forcible-entry and search
tools, rabbit tool, thermal-imaging -camera, Class A and Class BC fire
extinguishers, SCBA, hydraulic rescue tools and cutters, and air sampling
devices and meters. These Squads bring City of Cambridge Fire Department EMS
care to the 21st century and also enhance our firefighting capability, as well
as our capability to mitigated hazardous materials incidents and provide
defense against terrorist attack. Fire department medics participate in our
ongoing training to operate as tactical firefighter/paramedics in various
types of special hazards, homeland defense, and technical rescue situations.
The rigs are Ford E-350 vans. The CFD shop mechanics and technical service
personnel completed outfitting and compartmentation. These rigs are
non-transporting units. Professional Ambulance will both assist in provision
of medical care and provide transport to medical facilities.
For more information on the squads, contact the captain: Captain William Brathwaite e-mail address:
wbrathwaite@cambridgefire.org |
Truck Company #3
Equipment includes: Ladder Company #3 was organized on 2 April 1894 in a new house on Front Street opposite Main Street. (Front Street was later renamed Massachusetts Avenue.) Ladder 3 shared these quarters with Engine 2. The company ran with a new American LaFrance, horse-drawn, 75 foot Hayes aerial ladder truck. In 1919 the former apparatus of Ladder 1, an 1890 ordinary ladder truck, was given to Ladder 3. The company was motorized in November of 1921 when a new American LaFrance, tractor-trailer, 85 foot aerial ladder was placed in service by the company. On 17 October 1935, Ladder 3 was involved a collision with Engine 2. As a result of this collision, the aerial was broken. The aerial was replaced with the 75 foot stick, formerly Ladder 1's. In October of 1938, a new 100 foot Pirsch, tractor-trailer was placed in service. On 19 January 1963, the company placed in service a Pirsch tractor-trailer truck with a 100 foot aerial. On the 1st of July 1981, the 1963 truck was placed out of service. Truck 3 ran with various spare trucks until the 15th of June 1983 when a rebuilt truck was placed in service. The rebuilt truck consisted of Ladder 3's former tractor with Ladder 2's former trailer. The truck had been rebuilt by Continental Fire Apparatus. Truck Company 3 placed a new Maxim 100 foot aerial tractor trailer truck in service on 5 April 1989. On the 7th of July 1994, a new Pierce Arrow rearmount 105 foot aerial ladder truck was placed in service by the company. The 1989 Maxim was reassigned to Truck 4.
Truck 3 Photo Gallery
all photos above are from the collection of Ed Morrissey
Truck 3 Annual Statistics
*In 2001/02, the definition of a building fire was modified. For more information on Truck 3, contact the captain: Fire Captain Robert Dunn e-mail address: RDunn@cambridgefire.org
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LAFAYETTE
SQUARE On his return to France, amid political turmoil and changes in government, he advocated the American republic style of government and liberty. At one point, he was forced to flee France. He was also jailed in France for a short time. At Washington’s invitation, he did return to the United States in 1784 and toured the country, treated as a celebrity. He died in 1834 and is buried in Paris. Earth from Bunker Hill in Massachusetts was spread on his grave. Since World War I, an American flag has flown over his grave continually (including the duration of World War II.) Lafayette has been named an honorary American citizen. This honorary citizenship has been granted to very few people in history, Winston Churchill being one.
Lafayette visited Cambridge, Massachusetts at least twice.
In addition to the Lafayette Square in Cambridge, MA, there are
Lafayette Squares in Salem, MA; Haverhill, MA; New York, NY; New Orleans,
LA; Savannah, GA; Saint Louis, MO; Buffalo, NY; Washington, DC;
Indianapolis, IN; and Bridgeport, CT.
Note: Other European military officers volunteered to serve in the
Continental army with George Washington and participated in the American
Revolutionary War. These include: Baron von Steuben from Prussia, Tadeusz
Kosciuszko from Poland, and Casimir Pulaski from Poland. |
