In the mid-1800’s, there was a small town that was about four square acres in size. There was a general store, three churches, a small school, and several different areas that included houses and farms. In 1850, the local government came together and named the town Brick Borough. The town was still a fledgling community and did not have many of the functions available in modern times.
The fire service didn't begin until August of 1868. On August 18, a massive fire broke out in a store in town. Since there was no fire department in Brick Borough, neighboring communities had to respond to their aid. By the time the local fire companies and their horse-drawn hand pumps arrived, the wind-driven inferno had spread down Main Street and engulfed many of the buildings there. After five days of continuous firefighting, the Great Fire of 1868 was extinguished. It was at this point when the city of Brick Borough realized that a fire department of their own was needed.
On August 24, the day after the fire was extinguished, members of the community gathered in the Brick Borough United Methodist Church on South Ranch Street to discuss the creation of the town’s first fire company. The town acquired money to purchase a pumper and build a fire station.
The department would also need members. In September, the Borough put out a request for volunteers to fill the ranks of the fire company. 50 men between the ages of 18 and 30 registered, and 12 were accepted. Brick Borough was given the company number of 3, ranking behind two neighboring departments that already claimed the numbers 1 and 2.
In February of 1869, the fire department received their first piece of apparatus, a 1868 Amoskeag 1st size steam engine. The unit, designated Engine 3, would be pulled by horses. It carried several hoses and could pump a stream of water around 100 feet. Engine 3 was nicknamed “Ol’ May” by the men after Chief Charles Windward’s wife. In March of 1869, the fire station built on Main Street was completed. The building was two stories in height, and included living quarters for the men, a bay for the engine, and stables out back for the horses. It also had a bell tower at the top of the firehouse to ring to alert the volunteers when there was a fire.
For ten years, Engine 3 ran solo, fighting every fire and answering every call of need in Brick Borough. These years wore down the fire truck and took it to its limit. In the spring of 1879, after a string of large fires, Ol’ May finally broke down for good. The fire department, feeling sentimental about their first pump, decided to stow it in the Main Street fire station where it is to this day.
For a short time, the department was without a main fire apparatus, and panic struck. The unprepared department suffered with major fire after major fire, to which they could only respond to in borrowed carriages. In the early summer of 1879, the department ordered a pair of Amoskeag 1st size steam engines, designated Engines 3-1 and 3-2, that would be built and delivered in the fall. During the time in between, the department commandeered a carriage with which they retrofitted a small hand pump. The temporary truck served until the new engines arrived. In September of 1879, Engines 3-1 and 3-2 arrived. The new trucks had a powerful pump that could send a stream of water over 100 feet through the air.
Due to the introduction of a second unit, a poll for another crew of 12 was put out. 38 men applied for the task. Now, the Brick Borough Fire Department consisted of 24 firefighters and the chief. For twelve years, everything went well, as the two engines faced every emergency thrown upon them. This went on until May 21, 1891. A massive fire erupted on the east side of the city. Engines 3-1 and 3-2 raced to the scene where they found a factory fully involved in fire. The company that owned it manufactured tractors.
During the massive blaze, an explosion blew one of the building's walls to pieces, and Engine 3-2 was crushed. 5 firefighters were injured. Many lessons were taken away from this fire. The fire department learned that with the size of some of the nw factories in town, a ladder truck was needed. A hose truck, to carry extra hose to the scene of a fire, was also determined to be needed. The fire department also saw that in their rapidly expanding city, another firehouse would be needed in the near future.
In November of 1891, the department’s administrators met to discuss the ordering of the new units. It was decided that two Amoskeag 1st size engines, a Gleason and Bailey ladder truck, and a 3rd size Silsby hose engine would be ordered. All of these units were horse-drawn. The department decided to build a second fire house as well, since the current one could only house two trucks. Ground was broken for a second fire house in the southeastern part of the city. It was decided that Engine 3-1 and Hose Wagon 3 would be stationed at Station 1, and Engine 3-2 and Ladder 3 would be housed at the new Station 2. Twenty-four more men were also hired for staff the new trucks.
In March of 1892, the new trucks were delivered. The Station 2 units were temporarily housed in a barn until the new station was completed in the fall of the same year. Once the new trucks moved in, the old Engine 3-1 was placed in the department’s antique collection. For the next 13 years, these units served in the Brick Borough Fire Department. During those 13 years, a lot happened.
Automobiles began to appear on the city streets, and roads that were once brick and cobblestone began to become paved. Bigger buildings were erected, some were close to ten stories in height. The city was enjoying vertical, and horizontal, expansion. However, the foresight that the department had in 1891 helped save a lot of lives and property. The two station, four apparatus, and forty-eight firefighter system worked perfectly.
In 1905, the first gasoline-powered, self-propelled engines were introduced. The department was thrilled by the opportunity, and quickly bought three 1905 Knox engines to serve as Engines 3-1 and 3-2, and as Hose Wagon 3. Ladder 3 still continued to serve with its four-wheeled ladder cart.
In 1907, the department’s volunteers became so overwhelmed with calls that it took up most of their everyday lives. In addition to fires, they were now responding to car crashes and nuisance calls, like peoples’ cats getting stuck in trees. The firefighters wanted payment. After a long, hard-fought battle between the department and the city government, the department finally became a paid department. Now, the firefighters would stay at the firehouse. Additional firefighters were hired, and two shifts were formed. Whenever the A-shift firefighters were off, the B-shift ones were in their place, and visa-versa.
In 1911, the Brick Borough Fire Department purchased a Seagrave-AC80 tractor-drawn aerial to serve as Ladder 3 and replace the cart.
As the country and the city in particular changed, the department had to change with them. More buildings that were higher than five stories were being introduced, and automobiles were beginning to appear on the city streets. In 1911, the department replaced the older units with newer ones, two engines, a hose unit, and a ladder, and those served until the 1930's.
In 1932, the department bought a Mack pumper and a tractor-drawn hook and ladder truck. The older rigs were scrapped and never seen again. The department could also afford to fix up the old fire station. The refurbished station can now be seen as Station 2 on Main Street.
In 1941, Brick Borough purchased a Chevy/Pirsch engine and an American LaFrance hose wagon. During WWII, the department found itself lacking young firefighters to serve in their ranks. As the department struggled to get manpower, the 1932 Mack pumper was placed out of service because it could never be staffed.
After the war, the department got a huge boost in manpower. Now that the 1932 Mack was outdated by newer equipment coming into the firefighting world, the department decided to purchase a 1946 Ford fire engine. For the next ten years, the department experienced little change.
Then, in 1956, a huge change occurred in the Borough. The Federal Highway Act was released, and one of these such highways was to be built directly to the East Brick Borough. The highway, to be called Interstate 83, would bring a lot of new traffic to the Borough. More traffic meant more cars and ultimately more car accidents. It was time for the Borough to purchase new trucks, and in addition to replacing their current units, they now needed a rescue truck.
In 1957, the department bought a Maxim/Young rescue squad, two Chevy engines, a Dodge Power Wagon 500 hose wagon, a new tractor-drawn aerial ladder by American LaFrance. After those units served for about ten years, the department bought a pair of American LaFrance engines. They replaced their aerial with a new ALF and they bought a new rescue as well.
The single bay fire station on Main Street could no longer fit their new apparatus, so the department decided to build a new station closer to the Susquehanna River to the West. Station 3 now housed Wagon 3, Engine 3-1 was now stationed alone at Station 1, and Engine 3-2, Rescue 3, and Ladder 3 remained at Station 2 on the Southeast side.
In 1968, Brick Borough purchased a new American LaFrance tractor-drawn aerial, three American LaFrance 900 Series pumpers, and a Ford C/Swab heavy rescue truck. At this point, Brick Borough did away with the Wagon designation and now they had Engines 3-1, 3-2, and 3-3, Ladder 3, and Rescue 3. Brick Borough also bought a Dodge ¾ ton Power Wagon brush truck to serve as Brush 3. It was stationed at Station 2.
Then, in 1979, American LaFrance released their Century model. Satisfied with the American LaFrance trucks in their service, Brick Borough quickly bought two engines and a ladder on the Century chassis. Additionally, they bought two Mack CF engines and a Mack CF/Baker tower ladder. They also bought a rescue on a Mack truck chassis with LaFrance bodywork. Brick Borough also purchased a Dodge/Pierce mini-pumper to replace the Dodge and serve as Attack 3. Now the fleet consisted of Attack 3, Engines 3-1, 3-2, 3-3, and 3-4, Rescue 3, Ladder 3, and Tower 3.
Some of the older firehouses could not house the new apparatus; some new stations needed to be built. A new station, Station 3, was built in the Devil's Den neighborhood to house Engine 3-3 and Tower 3. Another was built on the North side, Station 4, and it housed Engine 3-4. A new four-bay firehouse was built in Reister's Summit to house Engine 3-1, Ladder 3, Rescue 3, and Attack 3. That station was then designated Station 1, and it quickly became the department's headquarters with the introduction of the department's administrative offices to that facility. Engine 3-2 was housed at the Main Street firehouse, now Station 2.
After six years, Brick Borough decided to get a 1985 E-One pumper. In 1988, they purchased another E-One engine and a KME engine. Brick Borough did not replace the '79 rigs, but instead threw the new ones into the mix, each with their own new single-bay engine house in three different neighborhoods of the city. Today, the 1985 pumper serves as Engine 3-7, the 1988 KME serves as Engine 3-2, and the 1988 E-One serves as a training engine.
In 1990, Brick Borough purchased a Mack MC/Swab rescue and a Grumman/Aerialcat 102’ rear-mount tower ladder to replace Ladder 3. Now, it was known as Tower 3-1. The Mack CF scope was renamed Tower 3-2.
Everything was going well until 1994. Budget cuts hit the department hard, and Brick Borough had to close Stations 3, 5, and 6. Since Brick Borough had no space for these engines, they were forced to place them all in reserve status. For over a year, the department suffered from their financial woes. Then, when a new mayor arrived in 1996, the department received a massive grant to help them get back on their feet.
On September 11, 2001, disaster struck the WTC's. 343 of FDNY's bravest were killed. Brick Borough mourned the loss with the rest of the world. After the attacks, the response to major incidents changed and crews began to train situations like that of 9/11.
For most of the early 2000’s, the department updated its fleet. They purchased a 2001 American LaFrance/LTI 100' tower ladder to act as the city's primary truck company, a 2003 American LaFrance Metropolitan pumper to serve as Engine 4, and a 2006 American LaFrance/LTI 55' tele-squrt to serve as Engine 1.
However, in 2008, the U.S. economy tanked, and a recession occurred. The Brick Borough government had to again scrounge for money, and the fire department was heavily impacted again for the second time in thirty years. The fleet had to be cut back to a few engines, a tower ladder, and several other support units. This fleet of rigs remained this way, with minimal change, until 2010. The department began to add several new units to their fleet, and soon the fleet had been beefed up to the new standards that the city required, which included two engines, a heavy-duty rescue engine, a tanker, a squad, a tower ladder, and several command vehicles.
Then, the biggest disaster in Brick Borough history occurred. It was June 13, 2012 and all was normal. Suddenly, life in the area changed. An Air Force aircraft, whose pilot had suffered an apparent heart attack, soared down towards the Piccolo Center, a major landmark, in Brick Borough. The plane smashed into the building. Brick Borough responds, and the firefighters enter the building to save civilians from harm. Sadly, eight firemen lost their lives when a massive fireball ripped through the area they were in. The final death toll was 468 civilians and 8 firefighters. This was the largest loss of life in the department's, and area's, history.
After the incident, tactics were revised in an effort to keep up with incidents of the modern world. In 2013, Legoardia Airport Fire Department was created, as LGX experienced some major growth.
In 2014, the department was at a strength of Engine 3, Rescue 3, Squad 3, Tower 3, Tanker 3, Battalion 3, Chief 3, Utility 3, and Trailer 3. Then, in late 2014, the biggest jump in the city’s infrastructure occurred, and in the span of a couple months, the city grew by 20%. In an effort to keep up with the city’s massive expansion, the department had to grow too.
Then, on November 22, 2014, the biggest fire in over a century occurred. Tire Research and Development Facility, A.K.A. the TRDF, was destroyed in an eight alarm blaze. Several lives were lost, including that of a St.Sprenklesburg firefighter of Rescue 17. Thankfully, there have been no LODDs in the area since then.
In 2015, Brick Borough received the most calls it had ever received in its history up to that point, and things only continued to grow from there. On November 20, 2016, the department was challenged again when the second biggest fire since the Great Fire of 1868 occurred at a tire warehouse on the Industrial Highway. The fire went to six alarms, bringing over eight different area fire departments, close to eighty apparatus, and over 300 firefighters to the scene. The fire burned for four days before finally being extinguished on the 24th.
In December of 2016, the Brick Borough Fire Department signed an agreement with the local EMS providers, stating that an engine company could be dispatched to assist EMS on the scene of any Class 1 medical calls. Since then, BBFD has been assisting local EMS companies on the scene of many medical emergencies. These medical calls now make up a majority of the BBFD call volume.
In 2017, Brick Borough was honored to be awarded with the ISO-Class 1 certification. Also in 2017, Brick Borough built a new firehouse in Lakeview, Station 4, and heavily refurbed another, Station 1, in Reister's Summit.
2018 marks the 150th anniversary of the Brick Borough Fire Department. The evolution of the department is drastic and quick, met to meet the ever-changing needs of the environment they serve. Even 150 years later, Brick Borough Fire Department continues to provide some of the best service around, and the brave men and women of the Brick Borough Fire Department will always be there to protect the city of Brick Borough and the neighboring communities.
The fire service didn't begin until August of 1868. On August 18, a massive fire broke out in a store in town. Since there was no fire department in Brick Borough, neighboring communities had to respond to their aid. By the time the local fire companies and their horse-drawn hand pumps arrived, the wind-driven inferno had spread down Main Street and engulfed many of the buildings there. After five days of continuous firefighting, the Great Fire of 1868 was extinguished. It was at this point when the city of Brick Borough realized that a fire department of their own was needed.
On August 24, the day after the fire was extinguished, members of the community gathered in the Brick Borough United Methodist Church on South Ranch Street to discuss the creation of the town’s first fire company. The town acquired money to purchase a pumper and build a fire station.
The department would also need members. In September, the Borough put out a request for volunteers to fill the ranks of the fire company. 50 men between the ages of 18 and 30 registered, and 12 were accepted. Brick Borough was given the company number of 3, ranking behind two neighboring departments that already claimed the numbers 1 and 2.
In February of 1869, the fire department received their first piece of apparatus, a 1868 Amoskeag 1st size steam engine. The unit, designated Engine 3, would be pulled by horses. It carried several hoses and could pump a stream of water around 100 feet. Engine 3 was nicknamed “Ol’ May” by the men after Chief Charles Windward’s wife. In March of 1869, the fire station built on Main Street was completed. The building was two stories in height, and included living quarters for the men, a bay for the engine, and stables out back for the horses. It also had a bell tower at the top of the firehouse to ring to alert the volunteers when there was a fire.
For ten years, Engine 3 ran solo, fighting every fire and answering every call of need in Brick Borough. These years wore down the fire truck and took it to its limit. In the spring of 1879, after a string of large fires, Ol’ May finally broke down for good. The fire department, feeling sentimental about their first pump, decided to stow it in the Main Street fire station where it is to this day.
For a short time, the department was without a main fire apparatus, and panic struck. The unprepared department suffered with major fire after major fire, to which they could only respond to in borrowed carriages. In the early summer of 1879, the department ordered a pair of Amoskeag 1st size steam engines, designated Engines 3-1 and 3-2, that would be built and delivered in the fall. During the time in between, the department commandeered a carriage with which they retrofitted a small hand pump. The temporary truck served until the new engines arrived. In September of 1879, Engines 3-1 and 3-2 arrived. The new trucks had a powerful pump that could send a stream of water over 100 feet through the air.
Due to the introduction of a second unit, a poll for another crew of 12 was put out. 38 men applied for the task. Now, the Brick Borough Fire Department consisted of 24 firefighters and the chief. For twelve years, everything went well, as the two engines faced every emergency thrown upon them. This went on until May 21, 1891. A massive fire erupted on the east side of the city. Engines 3-1 and 3-2 raced to the scene where they found a factory fully involved in fire. The company that owned it manufactured tractors.
During the massive blaze, an explosion blew one of the building's walls to pieces, and Engine 3-2 was crushed. 5 firefighters were injured. Many lessons were taken away from this fire. The fire department learned that with the size of some of the nw factories in town, a ladder truck was needed. A hose truck, to carry extra hose to the scene of a fire, was also determined to be needed. The fire department also saw that in their rapidly expanding city, another firehouse would be needed in the near future.
In November of 1891, the department’s administrators met to discuss the ordering of the new units. It was decided that two Amoskeag 1st size engines, a Gleason and Bailey ladder truck, and a 3rd size Silsby hose engine would be ordered. All of these units were horse-drawn. The department decided to build a second fire house as well, since the current one could only house two trucks. Ground was broken for a second fire house in the southeastern part of the city. It was decided that Engine 3-1 and Hose Wagon 3 would be stationed at Station 1, and Engine 3-2 and Ladder 3 would be housed at the new Station 2. Twenty-four more men were also hired for staff the new trucks.
In March of 1892, the new trucks were delivered. The Station 2 units were temporarily housed in a barn until the new station was completed in the fall of the same year. Once the new trucks moved in, the old Engine 3-1 was placed in the department’s antique collection. For the next 13 years, these units served in the Brick Borough Fire Department. During those 13 years, a lot happened.
Automobiles began to appear on the city streets, and roads that were once brick and cobblestone began to become paved. Bigger buildings were erected, some were close to ten stories in height. The city was enjoying vertical, and horizontal, expansion. However, the foresight that the department had in 1891 helped save a lot of lives and property. The two station, four apparatus, and forty-eight firefighter system worked perfectly.
In 1905, the first gasoline-powered, self-propelled engines were introduced. The department was thrilled by the opportunity, and quickly bought three 1905 Knox engines to serve as Engines 3-1 and 3-2, and as Hose Wagon 3. Ladder 3 still continued to serve with its four-wheeled ladder cart.
In 1907, the department’s volunteers became so overwhelmed with calls that it took up most of their everyday lives. In addition to fires, they were now responding to car crashes and nuisance calls, like peoples’ cats getting stuck in trees. The firefighters wanted payment. After a long, hard-fought battle between the department and the city government, the department finally became a paid department. Now, the firefighters would stay at the firehouse. Additional firefighters were hired, and two shifts were formed. Whenever the A-shift firefighters were off, the B-shift ones were in their place, and visa-versa.
In 1911, the Brick Borough Fire Department purchased a Seagrave-AC80 tractor-drawn aerial to serve as Ladder 3 and replace the cart.
As the country and the city in particular changed, the department had to change with them. More buildings that were higher than five stories were being introduced, and automobiles were beginning to appear on the city streets. In 1911, the department replaced the older units with newer ones, two engines, a hose unit, and a ladder, and those served until the 1930's.
In 1932, the department bought a Mack pumper and a tractor-drawn hook and ladder truck. The older rigs were scrapped and never seen again. The department could also afford to fix up the old fire station. The refurbished station can now be seen as Station 2 on Main Street.
In 1941, Brick Borough purchased a Chevy/Pirsch engine and an American LaFrance hose wagon. During WWII, the department found itself lacking young firefighters to serve in their ranks. As the department struggled to get manpower, the 1932 Mack pumper was placed out of service because it could never be staffed.
After the war, the department got a huge boost in manpower. Now that the 1932 Mack was outdated by newer equipment coming into the firefighting world, the department decided to purchase a 1946 Ford fire engine. For the next ten years, the department experienced little change.
Then, in 1956, a huge change occurred in the Borough. The Federal Highway Act was released, and one of these such highways was to be built directly to the East Brick Borough. The highway, to be called Interstate 83, would bring a lot of new traffic to the Borough. More traffic meant more cars and ultimately more car accidents. It was time for the Borough to purchase new trucks, and in addition to replacing their current units, they now needed a rescue truck.
In 1957, the department bought a Maxim/Young rescue squad, two Chevy engines, a Dodge Power Wagon 500 hose wagon, a new tractor-drawn aerial ladder by American LaFrance. After those units served for about ten years, the department bought a pair of American LaFrance engines. They replaced their aerial with a new ALF and they bought a new rescue as well.
The single bay fire station on Main Street could no longer fit their new apparatus, so the department decided to build a new station closer to the Susquehanna River to the West. Station 3 now housed Wagon 3, Engine 3-1 was now stationed alone at Station 1, and Engine 3-2, Rescue 3, and Ladder 3 remained at Station 2 on the Southeast side.
In 1968, Brick Borough purchased a new American LaFrance tractor-drawn aerial, three American LaFrance 900 Series pumpers, and a Ford C/Swab heavy rescue truck. At this point, Brick Borough did away with the Wagon designation and now they had Engines 3-1, 3-2, and 3-3, Ladder 3, and Rescue 3. Brick Borough also bought a Dodge ¾ ton Power Wagon brush truck to serve as Brush 3. It was stationed at Station 2.
Then, in 1979, American LaFrance released their Century model. Satisfied with the American LaFrance trucks in their service, Brick Borough quickly bought two engines and a ladder on the Century chassis. Additionally, they bought two Mack CF engines and a Mack CF/Baker tower ladder. They also bought a rescue on a Mack truck chassis with LaFrance bodywork. Brick Borough also purchased a Dodge/Pierce mini-pumper to replace the Dodge and serve as Attack 3. Now the fleet consisted of Attack 3, Engines 3-1, 3-2, 3-3, and 3-4, Rescue 3, Ladder 3, and Tower 3.
Some of the older firehouses could not house the new apparatus; some new stations needed to be built. A new station, Station 3, was built in the Devil's Den neighborhood to house Engine 3-3 and Tower 3. Another was built on the North side, Station 4, and it housed Engine 3-4. A new four-bay firehouse was built in Reister's Summit to house Engine 3-1, Ladder 3, Rescue 3, and Attack 3. That station was then designated Station 1, and it quickly became the department's headquarters with the introduction of the department's administrative offices to that facility. Engine 3-2 was housed at the Main Street firehouse, now Station 2.
After six years, Brick Borough decided to get a 1985 E-One pumper. In 1988, they purchased another E-One engine and a KME engine. Brick Borough did not replace the '79 rigs, but instead threw the new ones into the mix, each with their own new single-bay engine house in three different neighborhoods of the city. Today, the 1985 pumper serves as Engine 3-7, the 1988 KME serves as Engine 3-2, and the 1988 E-One serves as a training engine.
In 1990, Brick Borough purchased a Mack MC/Swab rescue and a Grumman/Aerialcat 102’ rear-mount tower ladder to replace Ladder 3. Now, it was known as Tower 3-1. The Mack CF scope was renamed Tower 3-2.
Everything was going well until 1994. Budget cuts hit the department hard, and Brick Borough had to close Stations 3, 5, and 6. Since Brick Borough had no space for these engines, they were forced to place them all in reserve status. For over a year, the department suffered from their financial woes. Then, when a new mayor arrived in 1996, the department received a massive grant to help them get back on their feet.
On September 11, 2001, disaster struck the WTC's. 343 of FDNY's bravest were killed. Brick Borough mourned the loss with the rest of the world. After the attacks, the response to major incidents changed and crews began to train situations like that of 9/11.
For most of the early 2000’s, the department updated its fleet. They purchased a 2001 American LaFrance/LTI 100' tower ladder to act as the city's primary truck company, a 2003 American LaFrance Metropolitan pumper to serve as Engine 4, and a 2006 American LaFrance/LTI 55' tele-squrt to serve as Engine 1.
However, in 2008, the U.S. economy tanked, and a recession occurred. The Brick Borough government had to again scrounge for money, and the fire department was heavily impacted again for the second time in thirty years. The fleet had to be cut back to a few engines, a tower ladder, and several other support units. This fleet of rigs remained this way, with minimal change, until 2010. The department began to add several new units to their fleet, and soon the fleet had been beefed up to the new standards that the city required, which included two engines, a heavy-duty rescue engine, a tanker, a squad, a tower ladder, and several command vehicles.
Then, the biggest disaster in Brick Borough history occurred. It was June 13, 2012 and all was normal. Suddenly, life in the area changed. An Air Force aircraft, whose pilot had suffered an apparent heart attack, soared down towards the Piccolo Center, a major landmark, in Brick Borough. The plane smashed into the building. Brick Borough responds, and the firefighters enter the building to save civilians from harm. Sadly, eight firemen lost their lives when a massive fireball ripped through the area they were in. The final death toll was 468 civilians and 8 firefighters. This was the largest loss of life in the department's, and area's, history.
After the incident, tactics were revised in an effort to keep up with incidents of the modern world. In 2013, Legoardia Airport Fire Department was created, as LGX experienced some major growth.
In 2014, the department was at a strength of Engine 3, Rescue 3, Squad 3, Tower 3, Tanker 3, Battalion 3, Chief 3, Utility 3, and Trailer 3. Then, in late 2014, the biggest jump in the city’s infrastructure occurred, and in the span of a couple months, the city grew by 20%. In an effort to keep up with the city’s massive expansion, the department had to grow too.
Then, on November 22, 2014, the biggest fire in over a century occurred. Tire Research and Development Facility, A.K.A. the TRDF, was destroyed in an eight alarm blaze. Several lives were lost, including that of a St.Sprenklesburg firefighter of Rescue 17. Thankfully, there have been no LODDs in the area since then.
In 2015, Brick Borough received the most calls it had ever received in its history up to that point, and things only continued to grow from there. On November 20, 2016, the department was challenged again when the second biggest fire since the Great Fire of 1868 occurred at a tire warehouse on the Industrial Highway. The fire went to six alarms, bringing over eight different area fire departments, close to eighty apparatus, and over 300 firefighters to the scene. The fire burned for four days before finally being extinguished on the 24th.
In December of 2016, the Brick Borough Fire Department signed an agreement with the local EMS providers, stating that an engine company could be dispatched to assist EMS on the scene of any Class 1 medical calls. Since then, BBFD has been assisting local EMS companies on the scene of many medical emergencies. These medical calls now make up a majority of the BBFD call volume.
In 2017, Brick Borough was honored to be awarded with the ISO-Class 1 certification. Also in 2017, Brick Borough built a new firehouse in Lakeview, Station 4, and heavily refurbed another, Station 1, in Reister's Summit.
2018 marks the 150th anniversary of the Brick Borough Fire Department. The evolution of the department is drastic and quick, met to meet the ever-changing needs of the environment they serve. Even 150 years later, Brick Borough Fire Department continues to provide some of the best service around, and the brave men and women of the Brick Borough Fire Department will always be there to protect the city of Brick Borough and the neighboring communities.