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CAPE COD BRUSH BREAKERS 

FIRE DEPARTMENT
Brush & Forest Fire Apparatus History
BARNSTABLE COUNTY
 

~ JOINT BASE CAPE COD ~
FIRE DEPARTMENT
Previously
Massachusetts Military Reservation
Otis Air National Guard Base
Otis Air Force Base
Camp Edwards
Page Updated March 31, 2022

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Otis Fire Department - Breaker 8 
1977 (1968) Kaiser 6x6/Young 1500 Gallon Brush Breaker
 

PAGE CONTENTS

MORE
2A  - B1    - 1940s Chevy 4x4 Breaker - Camp Edwards
2B  - BB    - 1940s Chevy 4x4 Breaker - Camp Edwards
2C  - B13   - 1944 Diamond T Brush Breaker 1000 Gallon - Otis AFB
2D  - B19   - 1955 (1953) Reo 6x6 Brush Breaker 1000 Gallon - Otis AFB
2E  - B8     - 1960 (1952) Mil 6x6 Brush Breaker 1000 Gallon - Otis AFB
2F  - B14   - 1960 (1950s) Mil 6x6 Brush Breaker 1000 Gallon - Otis AFB
2G  - T13   - 1960s International 2000 Gallon Tanker - Otis AFB
2H  - B8     - 1977 (1968) Kaiser 6x6 / Young Brush Breaker 1500 Gal (lime) - Otis AFB
2I    - B9     - 1977 (1972) AM Gen 6x6 / Young Brush Breaker 1500 Gal (lime) - Otis AFB
2J   - T13   - 1980 (1986) Gibson Tractor-Trailer 5000 Gallon Tanker (lime) - Otis AFB
2K  - T14   - 1987 International/KME 500/2000 Tanker (lime) - Otis AFB
2L   - B8     - 1995 (1983) AM Gen 6x6 Brush Breaker 300/950 - (red) - Otis AFB
2M  - B9     - 1995 (1976) Gibson 6x6 Brush Breaker 300/950 - (red) - Otis AFB
2N
2O
2P
2Q
2R
2S

 

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JOINT BASE CAPE COD
Previously Camp Edwards - Otis AFB - Massachusetts Military Reservation

FROM THE HISTORY OF THE OTIS FIRE DEPARTMENT

1908
In 1908 the Massachusetts National Guard began summer training in the woods of the upper Cape.

1935
In April 1935 the governor signed a bill establishing the Massachusetts Military Reservation in the upper Cape Cod.  Later in 1935, the War Department approved acquisition of 20,000 acres for the use of training the Army's 26th Yankee Division National Guard within the towns of Bourne, Sandwich, Falmouth, and Mashpee.

FIRE BRIGADE
As construction commenced, a small fire brigade was formed.  It is believed that that original department operated a home made 450 gallon brush breaker.  Soon after the camp was established an unpaved airfield was constructed.

CAMP EDWARDS
In July 1938 the Massachusetts Military Reservation was dedicated Cape Edwards for Major General Clarence Edwards, former commander of the Yankee Division.  The airfield was named Otis Field for 1st Lt Frank "Jesse" Otis, a Boston native killed in a plane crash in 1937.

1940 FEDERAL EXPANSION
With the start of WWII, the federal government leased the base in 1940.  The base expanded rapidly with over 1,500 structures being built within months and 3 new paved 7,000 foot runways.

CONSTRUCTION
During construction, fire protection was provided by Walsh Construction.  It consisted of 3 apparatus, a retrofitted 4 speed 750 gallon "Liberty Truck" tanker built by the Army Quartermasters, and 2 leased pumpers.  The department consisted of 51 civilian firefighters, employed by Walsh, under the command of Fire Chief Clarence Gibbs, which operated for 125 days from Sept 1940 to January 1941 when construction was completed.  At that time, fire protection was turned over to the S.S. Army.

1941 FIRE DEPARTMENT ESTABLISHED
Elmer H James was selected as Fire Chief, with Charles F Dooling and Clarence Gibbs as Assistant Chiefs. These 3 civilian supervisors hired 6 experienced civilian hosemen/firefighters to serve as instructors for 71 soldiers assigned to the base fire department. The Liberty Truck tanker and old  brush breaker were retained, while 8 pumpers, and a chief's station wagon were added to the new fire department which operated from 5 fire stations.

FIRE STATIONS
Fire Station 1 was located on the northwest corner of the cantonment area (Connery Ave rotary). It served as the headquarters and contained the alarm room.
Fire Station 2 was on the southwest corner on South Outer Road.
Fire Station 3 was on the southeast corner near Simpkins Road leading to the Falmouth Gate.
Fire Station 4 was built outside the cantonment area, on East Hospital Road to protect the large base hospital. These stations were all wooden, with 3 apparatus bays, and living quarters to the rear.
A Crash Station was built on the northeast side of the cantonment area on the flightline of the new airfield. It had 2 bays. In 1943 the U.S. Navy took over the crash station operation until 1946.

1949 OTIS AIR FORCE BASE
The U.S. Air Force commissioned Otis Air Force Base in 1949. The crash station was operated by USAF with an addition providing 6 apparatus bays. The Air Force Fire Department utilized a combination of civilian and active duty personnel.

TWO FIRE DEPARTMENTS
From 1949 to 1955 there were 2 fire departments on the base, the Otis Air Force Base Department operating from the Crash Station with a 530A pumper and a tanker and Station 3 with a structural engine.  The all civilian Camp Edwards Fire Department operated Station 1 with 2 pumpers and a tanker & Station 4 with a pumper and brush breaker. Station 2 was used as a fire extinguisher shop.

1955 OTIS FIRE DEPARTMENT
In 1955 the Army's Camp Edwards Fire Department was merged into the Otis Air Force Base Fire Department  forming one department with a combination of Army, Air Force, and civilian personnel.  Fire Chief George Cahoon became the first chief of the consolidated department. Station 3 was closed and eventually torn down. The 2 brush breakers operated by the Camp Edwards FD were inherited by the Otis AFB FD.

1960 NEW CRASH STATION
In 1960 the Air Force built a new combination Crash and Structural Fire Station across the runways on the east side of the flightline. It had 3 bays for structural apparatus and 5 bays for crash equipment. The new station contained a new alarm room, so the old alarm room at Station 1 was closed. Station 1 remained open with a engine and tanker. Station 2 was closed. The former crash station was taken over by fire prevention and extinguishers. Station 4 remained with 2 pumpers and a brush breaker.

KENNEDY YEARS
From 1960 to 1963, Otis Air Force Base was frequently used by Air Force One as President John F Kennedy visited Cape Cod and the "Kennedy Compound" in Hyannisport. The Otis AFB FD would send a 530 series pumper and O-10 crash truck to Hyannisport to be on standby for Marine One helicopter movements. The apparatus would stay in the Hyannis Fire Station at night for the duration of the visits.

BOMARC & SAC
In 1960, a high security Bomarc Missile site was built on the base and it had its own fire department operating a 530 B series pumper used primarily for protecting during fueling and defueling of the missiles. The Bomarc site and its fire department was operational until 1972.  For a time, Otis was the largest Air Defense Command and Strategic Air Command base in the world.

Station 1 closed during the 1960s, but was used for a period of time by ANG and reserve firefighting units during summer training.

In 1970 the USCG Air Station Cape Cod was established and they operated a twin agent fire truck was operated by the air station.

1980 OTIS AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE
The Otis AFB was deactivated at the end of 1973 and over the following years fire protection was provided by a combination of personnel under Fire Chief Calvin Hitchcock. In 1980 the base was renamed Otis Air National Guard Base.  An additional bay was added onto the crash station for a tanker-runway foamer in the early 1980s. The crash station eventually became known as Station 1 and the East Hospital Road Station 4 became Station 2.

1998 RADIO RENUMBERING
In 1998 the department adopted the use of County Radio numbers on the apparatus (ie Breaker 9 became Breaker 409).

2007 NEW FIRE STATION
In 2007 a new combination structural and crash fire headquarters station was opened, closing the former crash station and the old station 2.  The department operates from one station for the first time in over 60 years.

2008 MASS MILITARY RESERVATION FIRE DEPARTMENT
On Sept 28, 2008 the Otis Fire Department was disbanded and the Massachusetts Military Reservation Fire Department was established.

2013 JOINT BASE CAPE COD
In July of 2013, the Governor changed the name of the Massachusetts Military Reservation to Joint Base Cape Cod.  Likewise, the Fire Department name once again changed to the Joint Base Cape Cod Fire Department.

1A

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Early Otis Brush Breaker 1940s

At least one brush breaker was built with fairly unique and recognizable design. The large 1 in the white diamond on the door indicates the station the truck was assigned to. On the hood is an identification number of "501716."  The military numbering beginning with 50 indicates a Fire Truck and the 1716 is presumed to be a series identifying the specific vehicle. It is likely this truck would have been operating by 1941.

1B

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Another early Otis Brush Breaker

It is believed that one of these early trucks later ended up eventually serving with the Bourne Fire Department as Engine 7 - Breaker 127.

1C

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Otis Brush Breaker - 1944 Diamond T

1D

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Otis Brush Breaker 19 - 1950s.

1E

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Otis Brush Breaker 8 - 1960 (1952) Mil 6x6 1000 Gallon

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MORE PHOTOS
 

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1960s Breaker 14 Otis Fire Department

May 1, 1965 Route 6

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2G

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2H

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1968 Kaiser mil / Ted Young brush breaker 1500 gallons during 1980s

Info

2I

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1972 AM General mil / Ted Young 1500 gallon brush breaker 9

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In 1908 the Massachusetts National Guard began summer training in the woods of the upper Cape.

In April 1935 the governor signed a bill establishing the Massachusetts Military Reservation in the upper Cape Cod.  Later in 1935, the War Department approved acquisition of 200,000 acres for the use of training the Army's 26th Yankee Division National Guard within the towns of Bourne, Sandwich, Falmouth, and Mashpee.

As construction commenced, a small fire brigade was formed.  It is believed that that original department operated a home made 450 gallon brush breaker.  Soon after the camp was established an unpaved airfield was constructed.

In July 1938 the Massachusetts Military Reservation was dedicated Cape Edwards for Major General Clarence Edwards, former commander of the Yankee Division.  The airfield was named Otis Field for 1st Lt Frank "Jesse" Otis, a Boston native killed in a plane crash in 1937.

With the start of WWII, the federal government leased the base in 1940.  The base expanded rapidly with over 1,500 structures being built within months and 3 new paved 7,000 foot runways.

During construction, fire protection was provided by Walsh Construction.  It consisted of 3 apparatus, a retrofitted 4 speed 750 gallon "Liberty Truck" tanker built by the Army Quartermasters, and 2 leased pumpers.  The department consisted of 51 civilian firefighters, employed by Walsh, under the command of Fire Chief Clarence Gibbs, which operated for 125 days from Sept 1940 to January 1941 when construction was completed.  At that time, fire protection was turned over to the S.S. Army.

Elmer H James was selected as Fire Chief, with Charles F Dooling and Clarence Gibbs as Assistant Chiefs. These 3 civilian supervisors hired 6 experienced civilian hosemen/firefighters to serve as instructors for 71 soldiers assigned to the base fire department. The Liberty Truck tanker and old  brush breaker were retained, while 8 pumpers, and a chief's station wagon were added to the new fire department which operated from 5 fire stations.

Fire Station 1 was located on the northwest corner of the cantonment area (Connery Ave rotary). It served as the headquarters and contained the alarm room.
Fire Station 2 was on the southwest corner on South Outer Road.
Fire Station 3 was on the southeast corner near Simpkins Road leading to the Falmouth Gate.
Fire Station 4 was built outside the cantonment area, on East Hospital Road to protect the large base hospital. These stations were all wooden, with 3 apparatus bays, and living quarters to the rear.
A Crash Station was built on the northeast side of the cantonment area on the flightline of the new airfield. It had 2 bays. In 1943 the U.S. Navy took over the crash station operation until 1946.

The U.S. Air Force commissioned Otis Air Force Base in 1949. The crash station was operated by USAF with an addition providing 6 apparatus bays. The Air Force Fire Department utilized a combination of civilian and active duty personnel. From 1949 to 1955 there were 2 fire departments on the base, the Otis Air Force Base Department operating from the Crash Station with a 530A pumper and a tanker and Station 3 with a structural engine.  The all civilian Camp Edwards Fire Department operated Station 1 with 2 pumpers and a tanker & Station 4 with a pumper and brush breaker. Station 2 was used as a fire extinguisher shop.

In 1955 the Army's Camp Edwards Fire Department was merged into the Otis Air Force Base Fire Department  forming one department with a combination of Army, Air Force, and civilian personnel.  Fire Chief George Cahoon became the first chief of the consolidated department. Station 3 was closed and eventually torn down. The 2 brush breakers operated by the Camp Edwards FD were inherited by the Otis AFB FD.

In 1960 the Air Force built a new combination Crash and Structural Fire Station across the runways on the east side of the flightline. It had 3 bays for structural apparatus and 5 bays for crash equipment. The new station contained a new alarm room, so the old alarm room at Station 1 was closed. Station 1 remained open with a engine and tanker. Station 2 was closed. The former crash station was taken over by fire prevention and extinguishers. Station 4 remained with 2 pumpers and a brush breaker.

From 1960 to 1963, Otis Air Force Base was frequently used by Air Force One as President John F Kennedy visited Cape Cod and the "Kennedy Compound" in Hyannisport. The Otis AFB FD would send a 530 series pumper and O-10 crash truck to Hyannisport to be on standby for Marine One helicopter movements. The apparatus would stay in the Hyannis Fire Station at night for the duration of the visits.

In 1960, a high security Bomarc Missile site was built on the base and it had its own fire department operating a 530 B series pumper used primarily for protecting during fueling and defueling of the missiles. The Bomarc site and its fire department was operational until 1972.  For a time, Otis was the largest Air Defense Command and Strategic Air Command base in the world.

Station 1 closed during the 1960s, but was used for a period of time by ANG and reserve firefighting units during summer training.

In 1970 the USCG Air Station Cape Cod was established and they operated a twin agent fire truck was operated by the air station.

The Otis AFB was deactivated at the end of 1973 and over the following years fire protection was provided by a combination of personnel under Fire Chief Calvin Hitchcock. In 1980 the base was renamed Otis Air National Guard Base.  An additional bay was added onto the crash station for a tanker-runway foamer in the early 1980s. The crash station eventually became known as Station 1 and the East Hospital Road Station became Station 2.

In 1998 the department adopted the use of County Radio numbers on the apparatus (ie Breaker 9 became Breaker 409).

In 2007 a new combination structural and crash fire headquarters station was opened, closing the former crash station and the old station 2.  The department operates from one station for the first time in over 60 years.

On Sept 28, 2008 the Otis Fire Department was disbanded and the Massachusetts Military Reservation Fire Department was established.

In July of 2013, the Governor changed the name of the Massachusetts Military Reservation to Joint Base Cape Cod.  Likewise, the Fire Department name once again changed to the Joint Base Cape Cod Fire Department.

     Massachusetts established a military reservation on Cape Cod in 1935. In 1938, the reservation was named "Camp Edwards." A small fire brigade was formed at the time and was maintained as the base developed. A small airfield was built and called "Otis Field."

     In 1940, as World War II was under way in Europe, the federal government leased the base from Massachusetts and went to work creating 7000' long paved runways and in 1941 established the Camp Edwards Fire Department.  As the base took shape, and thousands of soldiers occupied barracks during training prior to being deployed around the world, a substantial fire department was developed. A least 5 fire stations were built.

     Among the apparatus built for the base was at least one apparatus as a brush breaker. The early 1940s (1944?) Chevy military chassis was outfitted with steel bars to enable it to battle brush and forest fires in the large military compound. These photos, made from a film about a large 1946 forest fire that burned much of the upper Cape, show what the Camp Edwards brush truck looked like.

     It is also believed, that this apparatus would go on to serve the Town of Bourne for many years after being retired from Camp Edwards. The Bourne brush breaker Engine 7 (127) appears to be the same apparatus.

The 1944 Diamond T 1000 gallon brush breaker was operated by Otis Fire Department.

1960s Breaker 14 Otis Fire Department

May 1, 1965 Route 6

1960s Otis Fire Department Breaker 19

(1953 Reo - Served Otis as 19 & 8, c.1959 to 1977? Went to Bourne as 130)

1960s Breaker 19 appears to have been renumbered Breaker 8

Otis Fire Department Tanker 13 1960s

Otis Fire Department Tanker 13 1980s 5000 gallons and 1000 gpm.
1980 Gibson pulled by 1968 tractor, and later a 1978 AM General tractor in 1993. Retired late 1990s.