Many of the descriptions and photos on this page are printed with the permission of CNYfiretrucks.com or unyquefiretrucks.com. Our thanks goes out to them for this permission.
Active Apparatus
Organized April 6th 1906 as the Henry Hiteman Engine & Hose Co., the West Winfield FD provides Fire and Rescue protection to a 15 mile rural residential area as well as Advanced Life Support level EMS transport to a 250 square mile response area encompassing five fire districts. Our active volunteers respond to an average of 500 alarms annually (100 Fire, 400 EMS).
Our Fire Station
Following the department's organization in 1906, the original firehouse was built in 1910 and consisted of a two story masonry building that received an addition in 1970. In 1992, the original firehouse was demolished and replaced with the current firehouse which houses the entire fleet. A cornerstone of the original 1910 building along with stone from the 1970 addition is maintained alongside a commemorative stone for the 1992 dedication of the current firehouse.
Engine 110 - 1997 Freightliner FL106/Saulsbury 1500 gpm/2000 gal.
This rig features a two door extended cab with two side facing SCBA seats in the extended cab. While appearing to be Blue in color, this rig is actually a very light shade of Purple known officially as Plum Metallic. The color choice was not due to a clerical error (as is common with unyque colors) or the loss of a bet but rather simply the department wanted something a little different
Engine 128 - 1987 Ford F8000/1989 3-D Manufacturing 1250 gpm/1250 gal.
The first top mounted pump panel in Central New York, this rig was constructed on a 1987 chassis the vendor had available in order to meet the strict $100,000 budget the department had to work with. Built with a galvanneal body to resist rust in harsh Central New York winters, it is equipped with a rear pre-connect outfitted with a piercing nozzle for use on mobile homes.
1991 Spartan Gladiator/SWAB Heavy Rescue
1991 Spartan Gladiator/SWAB Heavy rescue that originally served the Hershey, Pennsylvania VFD and still maintains its' unique Yellow and White paint scheme complete with "Chocolate Town USA" logos.
Air Van
Air Van that carries our cascade air system to refill our S CBA bottles. Also carries various portable pumps, generators, and fire police road barricade/detour equipment.
Tanker 319 ("The Beast") - 1999 Peterbilt/Osco Tank & Truck Sales 3500 gal.
This rig has quite an interesting story - it was the first NFPA compliant fire service tanker ever built by Osco which specializes in over-the-road trucks. The cab started life as an over-the-road tractor which after logging 300,000+ miles, the engine seized and was replaced with one from another tractor that was wrecked. Having never assembled an NFPA compliant tanker, the manufacturer consulted a member of West Winfield FD who was a former fire apparatus salesman to ensure they met the NFPA standard.
1983 Pierce Arrow 85' Rear Mount Ladder Tower
Antique Apparatus
Antique apparatus still in our possession
1939 Federal/Fire Apparatus Engineering 500 gpm/200 gal.
Yes it still pumps. Has been a parade truck for many years
Hand Drawn Hose Cart
While not an actual West Winfield rig, this early 1900’s era hand drawn hose cart was purchased by a member and donated to the department for parade purposes.
1915 Seagrave Hand Drawn Ladder Cart
This was reportedly the last hand drawn ladder cart built by Seagrave according to their paint department records. This rig was used exclusively until 1924 when the department’s first motorized apparatus, an REO Speedwagon with a locally built Childs body entered service. As this rig was the only source of ladders, it was used sporadically until the mid 1950’s. At that time, the continued use of this rig resulted in a “spirited discussion” between the outgoing and incoming fire chiefs which was settled in the swampy mud pit behind the firehouse (the rig was
retired at that point).
retired at that point).
FormerApparatus
History, both in apparatus and equipment is very important to many fire departments and ours is no exception
Engine 129 (Retired) - 1976 Seagrave 1500 gpm/750 gal.
Originally serving the River Edge FD in New Jersey, this rig was acquired by West Winfield in 1996 and served until being retired in 2015 (it is now maintained by a private collector on the muster circuit in the Central New York region). It featured a bronze pump and fittings to resist rust when River Edge drafted out of the Hackensack River.
The "Hog" 3650 Gallon Water Tanker
Originally a milk truck, converted to a 3650 gallon water tanker in the mid-1970s. Was the first large capacity water tanker in the area. Because of its original pedigree as a milk tanker, there were no baffles inside the stainless steel lined tank which made it very interesting to drive. Unless it was totally full or totally empty it tended to drive you rather than you drive it!
1976 4/Saulsberry 1000 GPM Pump with 1750 gal. Water
An original Saulsbury wetside 170 gallon pumper tanker with 1000 GPM front mount pump. After the body rusted to pieces, it was removed and replaced with a 300 gallon tank and compartmented flat rack body. This was used for a few years and ultimately sold to a private company in the Rocky Mountains for use as a forest fire fighting vehicle. To our knowledge, it is still in service In that capacity.
Truck 410 (Retired) - 1965 Ford C/American Fire Apparatus 85'
Formerly serving the New York Mills FD in Oneida County, this rig was purchased for just $5,000 after the turntable and one entire side of the rig was replaced after suffering damage from a wall collapse. It was replaced in 2014 with a 1983 Pierce Arrow 85' rear mount ladder tower that originally served the Hawthorne FD in Westchester County.
`The "Bus"
Formerly operated by the City of Utica in neighboring Oneida County, this was the very first “Orion 1” model passenger bus built. It was donated by a local bus company with the lightbars being supplied by two separate fire departments that had them as surplus equipment. Originally planned for use as a mobile office for the department’s field days (carnival), it has also been used as a command post during a prolonged haz-mat incident as well as for rehab purposes during harsh Central New York winters.
Rescue 512 (Retired) - 1992 International 4900/EVI
Originally serving the Winonah Fire Co. in New Jersey, this rig was wrecked when it struck a tree after sliding on black ice during a harsh Central New York winter. It featured a light tower and two compartments dedicated specifically to hold large amounts of cribbing (while West Winfield does not perform extrication, they are well equipped to stabilize vehicles prior to the arrival of mutual aid companies that provide heavy rescue).
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