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FIRE DEPARTMENT HISTORY

WAR YEARS:

On December 17, 1941, the 77^th Congress passed public law 353 which authorized the establishment of a Navy Supply Depot in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania. The base construction was completed on June 17, 1943.

As the construction grew Lt. Commander Martin, the base construction officer, saw the need for fire protection and in March of 1942, a fire chief was hired. Gilbert U. Rupp was hired as the 1^st Fire Chief of the Naval Supply Depot Fire Department. An old chemical fire engine was procured from the Borough of Mechanicsburg Fire Department and the base fire department evolved from this point.

The Fire Department was a proud organization operating out of two stations, Building 306A the Headquarters Station and station two was located at Building 504B. Both stations were completed and placed into service in 1943.

In the 40’s the department operated with six modern engines, one city service truck, one tanker, two pick-up trucks and a jeep. The personnel consisted of Chief Rupp, three assistant Chiefs, three platoon captains and three platoons of firefighters 25 men each.

During the war years all the firefighters had to live within a 25 mile radius of the Depot and their life inside the fence was a continuous round of drilling, checking the fire apparatus and cleaning the fire engines. From the top of the hose tower, one can see over the entire Depot and beyond to the hills on either side of Cumberland Valley.

The tower was used for both hose drying and to watch the skies for possible attack during World War II and in later years the tower was used to dry hose and watch an occasional thunderstorms move down the valley.

Fire protection was maintained over the Depot by working the platoons in three 8-hour shifts. Each platoon had a daily period of drills and formations, in addition to daily fire station duties. The required training and strict discipline was a requirement by Chief Rupp.

POST WAR YEARS:

The post war years brought drastic changes to the Navy Supply Depot Fire Department. The staffing levels were cut to 18 firefighters, consisting of 1 Fire chief, 2 captains, 2 drivers, 10 firefighters and 3 fire inspectors. A far cry from the nearly 100-man department of the 1940’s.

On July 24, 1953 the base name was changed to the Navy Ships Parts Control Center. October 1964 Chief Rupp retired and Chief Patterson assumed the duties as chief.

In 1967, a pair of International/Ward 79 engines arrived to replace the aging 1945 open cab Seagraves engines. The new apparatus came with 750 GPM pumps and 300 gallons of water.

1970’s:

In the early 1970’s there was not much change to the NSPCC Fire Department. August 1972 Chief Patterson retired with Chief Speece assuming command of the NSPCC Fire Department. September 1977 brought the retirement of Chief Speece. Chief Henry Milstead transferred in to assume the duties of the Fire Chief’s position.

1980’s:

The 80’s brought a few changes to the fire apparatus. In 1980 a Spartan/FTI engine replaced one of the 1967 International fire engines. This new engine came with a 1000 GPM pump and 500 gallons of water and was designated 137. This new cab design brought an end to riding the back step.

In 1982 a 2^nd custom fire engine, A Ward/79 Limited was added to the department. This engine also came with a 1000 GPM pump but had a larger 750 Gallon water tank and was designated engine 237. In July 1987, with the assistance of a former NSPCC Admiral the Fire department was directed to be brought up to full staffing levels for the 2^nd engine company operation as per the DODI of that time.

1990’s:

. The 90’s would be known as the decade of change for the NSPCC Fire Department. In 1990 2 new fire engines arrived, A Pierce Arrow, 65’ Tele-Squirt that replaced the 1967 International engine. This latest addition to the fleet came with a 1000 GPM pump, 500 Gallon tank and a 65’ aerial ladder. This unit was designated Engine 337. The 2^nd engine was a Simon Duplex/Ward 79 Limited, which replaced the 1982 Ward/79 Limited. The Simon Duplex came with a 1000 GPM pump and 500 gallon water tank and was designated Engine 237. In 1992 a Ford LN8000/Pierce walk in rescue was added to the fleet to aid in our Hazardous Materials responses. This unit was designated Haz-Mat 37.

On October 02, 1995 the official base name was changed to the Naval Inventory Control Point Mechanicsburg. In January 1996 Chief Milstead retired and Chief Otten assumed command of the NAVICP Fire Department.

Sometime in 1997 the Cumberland County 911 Center assumed 911 Dispatch responsibilities for Fire-EMS and Hazardous Materials incidents at the Naval Inventory Control Point Mechanicsburg. This change was in part due to the 911 Phone surcharges already being paid to Cumberland County.

In the Spring of 1998, a major renovation project was started on the fire station. The whole building was gutted, 4 new bays, a new training room and a new assistant chief’s office were added to the rear of the building. While the renovation project progressed the department operated out of mobile homes. The project was completed in the Fall of 1998.

On November 8, 1998 once again the base name changed to the Naval Support Station Mechanicsburg. It was at this point the fire department became known as the Federal Fire Department Mechanicsburg.

July 1999, Due to the outcome of the BRAC Hearings, The Federal Fire Department Mechanicsburg started sending manpower to FISC Oakland California on a 30-day rotations to assist in providing fire protection until the Navy turned the base over to the City of Oakland

August 1999 two custom E-ONE fire engines were delivered to the base replacing the 1980 Spartain/FTI and 1990 Simon Duplex/Ward 79 Limited. The E-ONES have 1250 GPM pumps, 500-gallon water tanks and rescue compartments on both sides. The engines are designated engine 137 & 237. In the Fall of 1999, the Pierce Tele-Squirt returned from Pierce after having the cab enclosed.

BASE FIRE CHIEFS:

Past Fire Chiefs for the Naval Supply Depot, Navy Ships, Parts, Control Center, Navy Inventory Control Point, Naval Support Station and Naval Support Activity are as follows.

1.) Gilbert U. Rupp February 1942-October 1964

2.) Aaron Patterson October 1964-August 1972

3.) Jay P. Speece August 1972-September 1977

4.) Henry E. Milstead September 1977-January 1996

5.) Duane D. Otten January 1996-September 2004

2000 “Regionalization”

January 10, 2000, Brought yet another base name change, the base became known as the Naval Support Activity Mechanicsburg. In June 2000 the base water system and fire pump upgrades were completed and the base water towers (A local landmark) started to come down.

On October 01, 2003, The Federal Fire Department Mechanicsburg was regionalized with many other Navy Fire Departments to become the Navy Region Mid-Atlantic Fire and Emergency Services, Pennsylvania District, Mechanicsburg Site.

Summer of 2004 the new Pierce 65’ Tele-Squirt arrived and replaced the 1990 squirt. The 1990 Squirt was then sent to the Naval Air Station in Brunswick, ME. The 2004 Pierce has a 1500 pump and 500 Gallons of water and designated Engine 337.

In September of 2004 Chief Duane D. Otten retired from the Navy Region Mid-Atlantic Fire and Emergency Services, Pennsylvania District, Mechanicsburg Site. Just as Chief Gilbert U. Rupp will be known as the 1^st Fire Chief of the Navy Supply Depot Mechanicsburg, 61 years later Chief Duane D. Otten will be known as the last “base” Fire Chief.

September 2005, the call went out for help and the NRFES Mechanicsburg supported “Operation Katrina” by sending firefighters to the Naval Support Activity New Orleans and to the Naval Air Station JRB New Orleans.

In November 2005, The NRFES Mechanicsburg answered the call to support the manpower crisis at the Willow Grove Naval Air Station in Willow Grove Pennsylvania.

Today the NRFES operates a modern fleet of apparatus consisting of 2 Engines, 1 Engine/65’ Tele-Squirt, 2 Utility pick-up trucks, A chief’s pick-up truck and 2 Hazardous materials trailers and are responsible for fire suppression, EMS/QRS response as well as any Hazardous materials emergencies on United States Navy property.

For 62 years the NRFES still maintains its vigilance over the Mechanicsburg Installation with a 27 man department consisting of 2 Battalion Chiefs, 4 Captains, 8 Drivers, 9 firefighters working a two platoon system 365 days a year and each shift is now 24 hours long.

The suppression forces staff two engine companies with 4 personnel each, a Captain, Driver/Operator and two firefighters and are supervised by a Battalion Chief on each shift. This leaves the third engine in a reserve status.

The NRFES Fire Inspection/Prevention Branch consists of 4 personnel, 1 Battalion Chief and 3 inspectors to provide code enforcement through weekly, and quarterly inspections of all installation facilities. This branch also provides training to the base populous, plans review, fire cause and determination type investigations.

The department obtains the required training certifications through the Maryland Fire & Rescue Institute and the DOD Firefighter Certification Program.

The Navy Region Mid-Atlantic Fire and Emergency Services Mechanicsburg provides mutual aid to numerous local communities through mutual aid agreements and is identified by Cumberland County as Company 37.