Rescue Co. 1

The origins of Rescue Company 1 can be traced back to 1940 when the fire department organized a First Aid & Life Saving truck at Fire Station 1. The company was staffed with 2 firefighters and used a panel truck to carry specialized gear and the resuscitator. As more equipment was obtained the company needed a larger vehicle. In 1953, a truck chassis was outfitted by the FD shops with a rescue style body and the company was designated as the First Aid and Rescue Squad. It was again renamed in 1955 as the Rescue & Salvage Truck. By 1972, EMS duties had been transferred to the newly created Emergency Care Units and Rescue 1 was disbanded. The purchase of a newly designed Hurst “Jaws of Life” tool in 1974 returned the Rescue Truck to service using a pickup truck that was staffed by the Fire Training Academy. More and more equipment was added to the company and an extended chassis van was used. In 1994 a former Emergency Care Unit was converted to carry the rescue equipment and was designated as Rescue 1. It continued to be operated by Training Academy staff. During the late 1990’s basic auto extrication duties were transferred to the ladder companies and Rescue 1 was converted into a Technical Rescue Support Unit. In 2000, a new rescue unit was purchased and cross-staffed by Engine 13, although still housed at the Training Academy. In 2005, Rescue 1 became a fully staffed company and Fire Station 3 was remodeled to become the “Home of the Rescue”. The Special Operations rescue services have often operated a 2nd piece of apparatus to carry the various items of technical rescue equipment. The vehicles were housed at Station 1 and responded with personel from companies assigned there. The first was a converted step van put into service in 1990 to carry the confined space and trench rescue gear and several other vehicles were used over the years. Today, these duties have been transferred to specially equipped trailers for each discipline.