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RESCUE SQUAD 414
“FROM INCEPTION TO TODAY”
In 1974, The Reisterstown Volunteer Fire Department decided there was a need in our district for a “Heavy Rescue/Floodlight Unit”. The decision was made to purchase a 1965 Chevrolet Squad from the Laurel Rescue Squad, Prince George’s County, MD, for $24,000, after making modifications on the unit to meet the current County Specs; the unit was placed in service and served well for 5 years. This unit allowed the Company to work with a new service, vehicle extrication and all types of rescues as well as operating as a Floodlight and support unit for the Truck Companies in our neighboring districts. Using the used vehicle as a learning tool to help the members gain knowledge and experience along with the additional training required, gave the Company the ability to design their own full custom Heavy Duty Rescue Squad/Floodlight Unit.
In 1979, the Company had completely outgrown the existing Squad and the decision was made to design and have built a full custom Squad. The contract was awarded to the Salisbury Fire Equipment Company in Tully, New York. It would utilize a Ford Chassis with a 210-hp Caterpillar Diesel, 17.5 KW generator and more than triple the overall compartment space needed to keep up to date with all the new equipment being designed in the area of Rescue/Floodlight. It was dedicated in May 1980, at the cost of $80,000, and remained in service for over 12 years.
In late 1991, the Company again decided to have a new Squad/Floodlight designed and built by the Swab Wagon Company, Elizabethville, PA, at a cost of $275,000, The unit would be nicknamed “TOP CAT”, and built on a conventional chassis made by Peterbilt. The unit has a 400hp Caterpillar Diesel, 20KW generator, 25 foot Light Tower, 3 bottle 6000 psi cascade system, complete air bags, air shores, additional cribbing, and a complete Hurst System. All of this and much more equipment are located in, on top of, under of and around the 21-foot walk-in body. These and other advancements have made “TOP CAT” a premier piece of fire rescue apparatus in today’s challenging time.
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