The History of Cape Cod Brush Breakers

CapeCodFD.com

CAPE COD BRUSH BREAKERS

HISTORY - IN REVIEW
Brush & Forest Fire Apparatus History
BARNSTABLE COUNTY

~ THE STORY ~
~ SPOTTING FIRES - FIRE TOWERS ~
PAGE 11
Page Updated January 26, 2022

Cape Cod Brush Breaker
Barnstable County Forest Fire Service No.1 - 1957 Ford/Maxim

PAGE CONTENTS

M - Map
01 - The Cape Cod Forest Fire Problem
02 - Historical Cape Cod Forest Fires
03 - One Large Cape Cod Forest Fire - 1946
04 - Cape Cod Forest Fire Jumped Route 6 - May 1965
05 - Plymouth County Forest Fires
06 - Some More Recent Forest Fires
07 - The Fire Danger - Firefighter Memorial
08 - Fire Prevention - Only You!
09 - Public Education - Smokey Bear
10 - Spotting Fires - Fire Towers
11 - Spotting Fires - Fire Patrol Planes
12 - Locating Fires - Fire Patrol Trucks
13 - Early Firefighting - By Hand
14 - Early Fire Apparatus
15 - First Brush Breakers
16 - Barnstable County Brush Breakers
17 - State Forest Fire Trucks
18 - On The Islands - Brush Trucks
19 - Plymouth County - Brush Trucks
20 - Brush Breakers Working
21 - The Hey Day of Brush Breakers
22 - Tankers and Other Support Apparatus
23 - Forest Fire Training
24 - Small, Medium, and Large Brush Trucks
25 - The Newest Brush Trucks
26 - The END TIMES

MAP

<PREV TOP NEXT>

CAPE COD & THE ISLANDS

BARNSTABLE COUNTY

BARNSTABLE COUNTY
Cape Cod is located in southeastern Massachusetts. Historically and officially, Cape Cod is also known as Barnstable County. There are 15 towns within Barnstable County. Within those towns there are many smaller villages and communities. These towns and villages are served by a number of municipal, state, and federal fire departments and agencies. Over the years there were a number of town, county, and federal fire departments and agencies that no longer serve. Most of these departments and agencies have battled forest fires over the years and are recognized within this feature.

THE ISLANDS
The area is often referred to as Cape Cod & The Islands. This also includes the two major Islands of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket. Both are counties themselves. Martha's Vineyard is Dukes County and Nantucket is also a County. Several departments and agencies also provide firefighting on each of the islands.

PLYMOUTH COUNTY
Located adjacent to the Cape Cod & Islands region is Plymouth County, also made up of a number of towns, districts, and agencies serving their communities. All have also been involved in fireghting forest fires over the years.

BRUSH BREAKERS
This feature focuses on the Cape Cod Brush Breaker fire apparatus, but the effort to battle forest fires over the years involves much more that just those apparatus. Some structural fire apparatus was adapted over the years to battle brush and forest fires. Larger tankers are frequently used to re-supply and support the operation of other apparatus at major fires. Spotting, reporting, and locating fires quickly over the years included the use of fire towers, airplanes, forest fire patrol trucks, and other means.

FOREST FIRES
The Mutual Aid System, including sharing of large numbers of apparatus and personnel, was developed and utilized many times during large brush and forest fires in each of the Counties. Common radio channels and unit numbering were designated in large part to improve operations during these large incidents.

This feature addressing each of these topics and more to put into perspective the importance of Brush Breakers, and all other aspects of battling Forest Fires in the Cape Cod & Islands area.

<PREV TOP NEXT>

1 - THE CAPE COD FOREST FIRE PROBLEM

Forest fires raging through pine forest.

Cape Cod and other areas of Southeastern Massachusetts are known for the many serious brush and forest fires that struck communities over the years.

<PREV TOP NEXT>

2 - HISTORIC CAPE COD FOREST FIRES

Historic forest fires raged across Cape Cod many times.
Aug 1907 Fire

Going far back in history, large forest fires have impacted communities and industries.

<PREV TOP NEXT>

3 - ONE LARGE CAPE COD FOREST FIRE - 1946

The 1946 Forest Fire burned about 15,000 acres

A 1946 Forest Fire in the upper Cape burned for days. It covered about 15,000 acres. A documentary film was made showing the progress and response to the fire including the use of brush breakers of that time.

<PREV TOP NEXT>

4 - CAPE COD FOREST FIRE JUMPED ROUTE 6 - MAY 1965

1965 Fire jumped Route 6 in Sandwich

A rapidly moving forest fire that started in the Otis/Camp Edwards Military Reservation raged to and jumped over the Mid-Cape Highway (Route 6) in Sandwich on May 1, 1965. It scorched and blackened many acres of forest visible for a number of years.

<PREV TOP NEXT>

5 - PLYMOUTH COUNTY FOREST FIRES

Map showing some of the historic Plymouth County Forest Fires.

There is a map inside the Myles Standish State Forest District 2 Headquarters showing some of the many significant fires that have struck Plymouth County over the years.

<PREV TOP NEXT>

6 - SOME MORE RECENT FOREST FIRES

The PAVE PAWS Forest Fire burned in the 1988.

A large fire known as the PAVE PAWS Fire occurred on April 22, 1988. It burned about 1600 acres around the radar site. Photo taken from Fire Patrol Plane P18.

<PREV TOP NEXT>

7 - THE FIRE DANGER - FIREFIGHTER MEMORIAL

Firefighter Memorial Route 130 in Sandwich

A forest fire on April 27, 1938 burned out of the Camp Edwards National Guard Camp, eventually covering a 5 mile wide by 12 mile long area toward Sandwich into what would be the Shawme Crowell State Forest. Three of the firemen who battled the blaze were trapped, burned, and killed by the fire. The memorial remembers Thomas Adams, Ervin Draber, and Gordon King who were lost that day.

<PREV TOP NEXT>

8 - FIRE PREVENTION - ONLY YOU!

The prevention of forest fires became a major effort.

"Only you can prevent forest fires."

<PREV TOP NEXT>

9 - PUBLIC EDUCATION - SMOKEY BEAR

Smokey Bear

Public education and fire prevention go hand in hand.

<PREV TOP NEXT>

10 - SPOTTING FIRES - FIRE TOWERS

Fire towers, like this one in Barnstable in 1919, were staffed by spotters who
overlooked the Cape and other areas looking for smoke as fires started.

Fire towers became a vital part of combating forest fires. The earlier the fire could be detected and reported, the sooner it could be contained.

As early as the late 1800's, observation posts (fire towers) were constructed so that
observers could spot smoke early and try to locate fires while still small.
This tower was and still is located in Wellfleet.

The Falmouth Fire Tower was constructed in 1914.

Barnstable Fire Tower on Shootflying Hill
in 1919.

Shootflying Hill in 1920

This fire tower in West Barnstable oversees much of the mid Cape
area. It is located along Route 6. The trees are all grown up now.

The Barnstable Fire Tower in 1992.

Inside the fire tower is a centrally located map. Observers simply get a line
on the smoke and by crossing lines from two or more towers, the fire can
be located and communicated to fire fighters.

Wellfleet Fire Tower

Sandwich Fire Tower, like most of the others, have become more
cell phone and radio towers than fire observation towers in
recent years. This is somewhat poetic since the invention of the
cell phone had greatly improved the ability of the public to call in fires
early from their cars.

Another example of modern technology competing with the need for fire towers.
Bourne Fire Tower.

Brewster Fire Tower

Map display of Massachusetts fire towers in 1913

SPOTTING FIRES

As early as the late 1800s, elevated observation posts, commonly referred to as Fire Towers were built upon high grounds. The towers were placed strategically around the state to be able to observe smoke and report brush and forest fires to local fire departments.

Staffing of the fire towers was done by men and women who were very skilled at recognizing the difference between a chimney or contained fire, and a wild fire that was starting. Within the small shelter cab at the top of the tower, the tower operator or spotter, would use binoculars and a map to line up a smoke based on a compass bearing, and by judging a distance based on familiar landmarks such as church steeples, water towers, ridges, or bodies of water. The tower would work with other towers in the area to try to triangulate the smoke and pinpoint the origin of the fire. It would then be radioed to patrol trucks or the local fire department who would respond based on the report from the tower. The color, volume, and height of the smoke would all be assessed and reported if the fire started to grow particularly fast or was moving out in a different direction. Crown fires, flames leaping above trees, could sometimes be observed indicating a fire that was rapidly becoming out of control.

Next to actually preventing a fire from starting, the fire towers were one of the most valuable tools for spotting fires in their incipient stage when they might be able to prevent a large fire from gaining size. It is important to remember that the ability to observe and report fires that were away from populated areas was very limited. Telephones were wired in only some homes or businesses. Radios were not even available in the early days of towers, and later were usually in towers, fire stations, patrol trucks, and chief cars. Fires often gained great headway before the word could get out and equipment could be dispatched.

There were, and still are, several fire towers in the Cape, Islands, and Plymouth area. While the staffing and use of the fire towers is not what it once was, towers are still staffed during the fire season to report on fires.

BARNSTABLE FIRE TOWER

The first fire tower used by the state was a wooden tower built by public subscription in 1897 on Shootflying Hill in West Barnstable. In 1912, a wooden watchman's cabin was built on top of the tower. In 1914, a sturdier steel tower was erected with Barnstable and Yarmouth paying a total of $500 to construct it. At this time, about 1 mile of telephone cable was also laid enabling telephone service for the first time. This photo of the Barnstable Fire Tower was taken in 1919.

BARNSTABLE FIRE TOWER

This picture shows the Shootflying Hill Barnstable Fire Tower in 1920. The first two way radio was installed in 1937 allowing the tower to communicate with the few stations, chief cars, and patrol trucks that had radios at the time.

BARNSTABLE FIRE TOWER

The Barnstable Fire Tower was relocated to Clay Hill in 1948. The hill elevation around 200' and the 68' high tower put the observed about 250' above sea level. The steel tower is accessed off of Oak Street, West Barnstable. The tower cab was rebuilt around 1968-69. The tower is located along the Mid-Cape Highway, Route 6 between exit 5 and 6. From the Barnstable Tower, an observer can see most of the Cape as well as Cape Cod Bay and Nantucket Sound. This photo was taken c.1960s showing surrounding trees

BARNSTABLE FIRE TOWER

The Barnstable Fire Tower as seen from Route 6 in 1992. Note that the trees have grown considerably in height in the four decades since the tower was built. Also of note is that because of the convenient height and location of these towers, they have also become useful for mounting radio and cell phone antennas in recent years.

MASSACHUSETTS FIRE TOWERS

This 1913 map shows where fire towers were located in Massachusetts in that day. By the looks of the circles, only one was on Cape Cod and only a couple in the Plymouth / Bristol County area.

INSIDE THE FIRE TOWER

The inside of the fire tower is very simple and not built for comfort. The observation area has windows all around. Some of the windows also open allowing for ventilation and a better look with the glasses when needed.

A floor hatch is along one side and is kept closed until it is time for the observer to come in or out. In the center is a table with an area map under a piece of glass. A device called an "alidade" is mounted in the center of the table. It is able to pivot around as needed from its center mount. On each end of the alidade are simple sights that the spotter uses to line up by eye any smoke in the distance. A compass rose on the map is then used to provide a directional compass bearing known as the azimuth in degrees and fractions from the tower.

The bearing, or line, on the smoke is then plotted on a topographical map that is folded down from the ceiling on a piece of plywood. It shows the compass rose of the area towers. Once two or more towers spot the smoke and line it up, the base can be pinpointed and the appropriate agency can be sent to the area.

The tower also has a fire radio, and perhaps a chair or stool to sit on. Long days may have been improved by listening in on the radio to a ball game or by reading. Perhaps a lunch pale and a snack came with the observer. Depending on where the tower was located, the observer may have been able to talk with passersby or watch deer and other wildlife. Severe weather conditions would send observers to the safety of their vehicle on the ground.

SMOKE IN THE DISTANCE

The tower observer might see a smoke in the distance.

OBSERVATION

After a few minutes of observation, often with binoculars, the operator would determine if the smoke is of concern or not.

ALIDADE

The alidade is used to determine a line which can then be communicated via radio to other towers or fire stations who would cross up the lines to determine a general location to respond to.

TOPOGRAPHICAL MAP

The topographical map shows the main features of the land including bodies of water, clearings, elevations, roads, town lines, the compass roses' of the area towers and other features that may help determine where to send equipment. The two lines that intersect were then radioed to the local fire department who could duplicate the crossing of the lines for their own use.

PERMIT FIRE

Not all smoke is of concern. During the time of year when open burning is permitted, it is not uncommon to have dozens or more smokes coming up within view. As long as they behave themselves there is no reason to worry about them. Sometimes, such as when a pile of leaves or perhaps a material other than sticks is added to a permit fire it may briefly look dramatic and get a little closer look to see if it returns to normal.

BARNSTABLE FIRE TOWER IN 1946

A major forest fire swept the upper Cape over four days in April 1946. A film documenting the fire included how the fire towers operated in those days. These clips came from that film and show the tower, the operator's use of the alidade, the plotting of lines on the topographical map, and how the lines were plotted in the fire stations and other towers.

BARNSTABLE TOWER

The line coming out of the center of the map represents the Barnstable Fire Tower line going west while another line from the Sandwich Tower comes in from the upper left of the map. Where the lines cross, slightly to the right (east) of a clearing (Cape Cod Airport Marstons Mills) put the smoke in the area of Osterville-West Barnstable Road in Marstons Mills north of Race lane and south of Route 6. That would be close enough to send someone to find it on the ground.

FALMOUTH FIRE TOWER

A fire tower was built in 1914 on Howlands Park Hill in West Falmouth. It is at about 192' above sea level. Two way radio was also added in 1937. The original fire tower was replaced in 1946 by the former Martha's Vineyard tower which was re-erected in Falmouth.

BOURNE FIRE TOWER

A newer photo of the Bourne Fire Tower. This tower is located on Signal Hill, overlooking the Cape Cod Canal and north into Myles Standish and Plymouth. It was built in 1914 at 221' elevation. The original tower built in 1914 was replaced in 1947 and then upgraded again in 1968. Today the tower is dwarfed by the cell tower near by. For many years the Bourne tower was the control tower for the district.

WELLFLEET FIRE TOWER

The original Wellfleet fire tower was built in 1927. The towns in the lower Cape all pitched in to pay for the tower which was placed at Brownies Campground along Route 6 in South Wellfleet. It is only 50 feet above sea level and the 68 foot steel tower was rebuilt in 1960 to replace the original structure.

SANDWICH FIRE TOWER

The Sandwich Fire Tower overlooks the area where most of the historic Cape Cod forest fires have taken place. It sit on Telegraph Hill, off of Route 130 south of Route 6 at 292 feet elevation. It was built in 1934. Radios were added in 1956. The tower offers the best view into the Massachusetts Military Reservation, Camp Edwards where fires often started. It has become the control tower for the district and may at times be the only staffed tower, It has been used for cell towers as well.

DENNIS FIRE TOWER

The Dennis Fire Tower was built in 1948 on Signal Hill off Holcum Rock Road on the north side. Elevation 150 feet.

BREWSTER FIRE TOWER

The Brewster Fire Tower is located within the Nickerson State Park. It was added in 1949.

<PREV TOP NEXT>

11 - SPOTTING FIRES - FIRE PATROL PLANES

Barnstable County Fire Patrol Plane P-18

Barnstable County and Plymouth County both operated Fire Patrol Planes for many years. Going back to at least 1954, and perhaps before, these planes could provide assistance in locating fires and advising chiefs and personnel on the ground how to safely access them.

<PREV TOP NEXT>

12 - LOCATING FIRES - FIRE PATROL TRUCKS

Fire Patrol Trucks were also a vital aspect of battling wild fires.

Before many fire departments were staffed, there were staffed Fire Patrol trucks that would be in contact via radio with fire towers and the fire patrol plane and often reached fires first. Shown here around 1958 at the Marstons Mills Airport are the Town of Barnstable Patrol truck 210 and the State Patrol Truck Car 3, as well as some chiefs.

<PREV TOP NEXT>

13 - EARLY FIREFIGHTING - BY HAND

In the beginning, fires were fought by hand

Many of the largest fires were fought before there were many motorvehicles

<PREV TOP NEXT>

14 - EARLY FIRE APPARATUS

Photo

Info

<PREV TOP NEXT>

15 - FIRST BRUSH BREAKERS

Photo

Info