2008 KME Squad Engine
1500 GPM
825 Gallons of water
Capable of performing following duties: Fire, EMS, Vehicle Extrication, Hazardous Materials, Water Rescue, Rope Rescue

During the last half of 2005, the leadership of WTES made a decision to replace our aging 1986 GMC/Boardman tanker-pumper.  It was at that time that the leadership also came to the realization that we were seriously out growing out 1994 International/New Lexington rescue as well.  It was on that basis that the choice was made, and a committee was formed to begin the task of specing out a new Rescue Pumper type unit to replace the two existing units.

Westampton Township Emergency Services has long been known for being a progressive company.  Actively involved in all aspects of Technical Rescue, Vehicle Extrication, Hazardous Materials Response, and of course, Fire Suppression; it was only natural that the company was in a position to go and seek ideas from similar agencies.  This led WTES to the FDNY Squad Companies.  FDNY Squad Companies have been performing all of the same services for years and they had an excellent basis in place for their operations.  Utilizing the FDNY Squad Concept as a model, Squad 27 was formed.

The Squad apparatus, after much deliberation of the truck committee, was delivered in June 2007.  Manufactured by KME, the Squad features a 6 man cab, 1500GPM pump, and an 825 gallon water tank.  The apparatus is equipped with 1200’ of 5” supply hose, 6 preconnected hand lines, and a 15kw generator with 10,000 watts of lighting.

The apparatus itself doesn’t make the Squad Company though.  Squad Company firefighters are trained to NFPA standards to perform Advanced Fire Suppression and RIT, EMS (EMT-B Level), Incident Management, Vehicle Extrication, HazMat Mitigation (at the Technician Level), Rope Rescue, and Confined Space Rescue.  Some members have also furthered their abilities by mastering skills in the fields of Trench Rescue and Structural Collapse Operations as well.  All members of the Squad Company perform routine update training to continually hone their skills.

If you take the opportunity to take the Virtual Tour of our Squad apparatus, you will see that the rig is more then well equipped to handle just about anything that can come its way.  This is far from being “Just another Rescue Engine.”