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Brush Fire
Fennbrook Drive
January 13, 1951
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One of Chan Brainard's birthday presents in 1951 was a first-time visit to Station 6 on Merritt Street, which he described as follows, "For my birthdays, (January 13th), in those years, my mother would take me to a 'new' fire station of my choice, one which I had not previously visited. This particular year, I had chosen Engine 6 on Merritt Street. With one engine in a cramped apparatus floor, the visit didn't take very long, BUT, during that short period of time, an alarm came in!
Engines 3 and 6 were dispatched to a small brush fire on Fennbrook Drive. As the pictures show, housing development had evidently not yet started. Note the muddy road. Incidentally, this was the first time I had ever been present in a fire station when an actual alarm came in. What a thrill!! My mother was able to follow Engine 6 to the fire, with prodding from me to "go faster!"
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| Engine 6 - 1926 Maxim 500 GPM Pumper - Firefighter at the right appears to be Bob O'Donnell. Firefighter atop Engine 6 is probably Clem Kammerer. Notice the makeshift thermostat, a piece of plywood blocking part of the radiator, apparently to help the engine heat up. This technique was often used to boost interior automobile heaters, which does not appear to be the case in this instance. Engine 3, with mascot Belle atop, can be seen in the background. (Photo by Chan Brainard) |
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| Firefighter Clem Kammerer was on Engine 6. (Photo by Chan Brainard) |
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| Engine 3 - a 1928 Maxim 750 GPM pumper. Ralph Rosson is pictured with Station 3 mascot, Belle. (Photo by Chan Brainard) |
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| Engine 6 (Photo by Chan Brainard) |
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| Engine 3 - 1928 Maxim 750 (Photo by Chan Brainard) |
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Once again, the Hamden Fire Retirees' Assn. is extremely grateful to our friend Chan Brainard for providing these truly unique photographs for our archives. Thank you!
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