Cape Cod Brush Breakers

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CAPE COD BRUSH BREAKERS

FIRE DEPARTMENT
Brush & Forest Fire Apparatus History
BARNSTABLE COUNTY

~ TOWN OF BARNSTABLE ~
FOREST FIRE DEPARTMENT
1922 - 1975
Page Updated January 17, 2022

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The Osterville Fire Station at 999 Main Street was built in 1926.
Early on it became the headquarters for the Town of Barnstable Forest Fire Department
which began sometime around 1922 with the 1922 Dodge patrol truck shown in the center.
The 1937 Ford COE Brush Breaker and the 1938 Ford Patrol truck are all shown
in this 1938 era photo.

PAGE CONTENTS

MAIN
M - Map
1A - Patrol   - 1922 Dodge Patrol Truck - Osterville
1B - Breaker - 1937 Ford "FIRST" 800 gallon Brush Breaker - Osterville
1C - Patrol    - 1938 Ford Patrol Truck - Osterville
1D - Breaker - 1947 Dodge Power Wagon 250 gallon Brush Breaker - Cotuit
1E - Breaker - 1948 Chevy 300 gallon Brush Breaker - Centerville
1F - Patrol     - 1950 Ford Patrol Truck
1G - B-216    - 1952 Ford 250/800 gallon Brush Breaker - Osterville
1H - P-210    - 1958 Ford 125/175 Patrol Truck - Osterville
1I   - B-212    - 1962 International/Maxim 250/500 Brush Breaker - Centerville
1J   - B-216    - 1967 Maxim 250/1000 Brush Breaker - Osterville
1K - P-210    - 1967 Ford 125/175 Patrol Truck - Osterville
1L - B-215    - 1969 Dodge Power Wagon 250/300 Brush Breaker - Cotuit
1M - P-220    - 1969 Ford 100/150 Patrol Truck - Osterville
1N - P-210    - 1975 International 125/175 Patrol Truck - Osterville/West Barnstable

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2A
2B
2C
2D
2E
2F
2G
2H
2I
2J
2K
2L
2M
2N

MAP

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TOWN OF BARNSTABLE

1639 - Incorporated as TOWN of BARNSTABLE
60 - Square Miles - Approx AREA
48,916 - Population - (2020) CENSUS
815 - Density PER SQ MILE

FIRE DISTRICTS
The Town of Barnstable is the largest town on Cape Cod. Within the town, are 7 well defined villages. Fire protection and EMS service within the town is provided by 5 independent Fire Districts that were established at different times between 1896 and 1949. (Hyannis 1896, Centerville-Osterville {including Marstons Mills} 1926, Cotuit 1926, Barnstable 1935, and West Barnstable 1949). Each Fire District has its own governing and taxing structure and continues to work under local control.

TOWN FOREST FIRE DEPARTMENT
The only "Town Wide" Fire Service was provided by the Town of Barnstable Forest Fire Department TOBFFD which was established sometime around 1922 and operated until about 1975 when it was disbanded.

The Forest Fire Department purchased various apparatus over the years including patrol trucks and brush breakers, as well as needed hose, radios, and tools. A Forest Warden was in charge of the department and equipment. A couple patrolmen were typically employed at any given time. For the most part, staffing of the apparatus and actual firefighting was done by the members of the fire districts and fire stations that housed the TOBFFD apparatus. The apparatus mutually benefited the districts and the districts supported the operation of the Town Department.

When the Forest Fire Department dissolved in 1975, the Districts that housed the apparatus at the time were offered that apparatus for $1.00 each (essentially just taking over the apparatus as is). The 3 brush breakers and 1 patrol truck in service at the time became property of fire districts.

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Town of Barnstable Forest Fire Dept - 1922 Dodge Patrol Truck

1922 Dodge Forest Fire Patrol Truck (left)

The first Town of Barnstable Forest Fire Department apparatus was a 1922 Dodge truck that was euipped with a 150 gallon tank and a Leonard PTO pump (built in Osterville). It carried about 2000' of forestry hose. The Forest Warden at the time was Robert F Cross. He housed the apparatus at his home and operated it when there were fires.

After the Centerville-Osterville Fire District was established in 1926, a fire station was built in Osterville at 999 Main Street. Soon after, the TOB Forest Fire Patrol truck was also housed in the fire station. The C-O FD first Fire Chief Barnard S. Ames soon also became the Town Forest Fire Warden and oversaw both departments.

The 1922 Dodge was replaced by a 1938 Ford Patrol truck.

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Town of Barnstable Forest Fire Dept - 1937 Ford 800 Gal Brush Breaker

"FIRST" BRUSH BREAKER
The Town of Barnstable's first Brush Breaker, and long believed to be the "First" of the
Cape Cod style Brush Breakers, was built in Osterville on a 1937 Ford all wheel drive
chassis with an 800 gallon tank, pump, and large hose reel.

It has long been believed to be the "FIRST" of the Cape Cod style Brush Breakers ever built.

As the story goes, Centerville-Osterville Fire Department Fire Chief, also Town of Barnstable Forest Warden, Bernard S. Ames, worked with Carl Starck, who ran a gas and service station next to the Osterville Fire Station, to produce a new style fire apparatus.

A 1937 Ford Cab Over Engine (COE), all wheel drive chassis was designed to carry a large oval tank of about 800 gallons. A separate motor ran a small pump, allowing the truck to "pump and roll" when needed. A large hose reel was mounted behind the cab.

Part of the story of this truck was the fact that it had apparently just been painted when a large forest fire broke out on May 5, 1937 in the Ridgewood area of Hyannis burning some 2000 acres. The paint "wasn't even dry" when the truck went to work at its first fire. For reasons unexplained (but certainly including a lack of experience or training), the engine apparently stalled and the truck had to be abruptly abandoned as the fire closed in on it. Ultimately the truck was severely damaged by the fire, loosing its tires and ruining the new paint job. It was of course fully restored and would go on to serve for many years.

What made the truck unique and allowed it to become known as a "Brush Breaker" was the addition on steel bars in the front and around the vehicle that by design would provide protection for the truck while also enabling it to drive off road in the woods "breaking brush" along the way and pushing over small trees as needed to reach brush and forest fires that were otherwise not accessible. The ability to reach and extinguish woods fires before they got too large was a game changer and soon other departments followed by building similar style brush breakers.

In recent times, an argument could be made, that a 1935 Ford that was also equipped with some steel bars and was assigned to Shawme State Forest and later operated by the Sandwich Volunteer Fire Department would be considered the "first" brush breaker. The Town of Barnstable truck however, given its size and distinct design, clearly established the era of "Brush Breakers" on Cape Cod.

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Town of Barnstable Forest Fire Dept - 1938 Ford Patrol Truck

Town of Barnstable 1938 Ford Patrol Truck

The concept of the Forest Fire Patrol Truck was to equip a pickup truck with a small tank, pump, and some hose, that could be "on patrol" and able to respond quickly to reports of grass and brush fires, as well as to reports of smoke from fire towers. In the days before fire departments had any on duty personnel, the patrolmen and the small truck made a significant impact by reaching many fires well before the fire departments could.

The 1938 Ford served the entire Town of Barnstable, but was housed in the Osterville Fire Station. It would have replaced the 1922 Dodge patrol truck. The 1938 served until it was replaced in 1950.

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Town of Barnstable Forest Fire Dept - 1947 Dodge Brush Breaker

1947 Dodge Power Wagon Brush Breaker

In 1947, the Town of Barnstable built another small brush breaker. The Dodge Power Wagon chassis was 4 wheel drive. The truck was equipped with about 250-300 gallons of water, a small pump, and a supply of hose. A light duty steel bar provided some basic "brush breaker" capability for the truck.

For many years the truck was housed in the Cotuit Fire Station and was identified as "215" on the radio. When replaced by a newer version around 1969, the 1947 Dodge served at the Hyannis Fire Station for a few years until about 1973 when Hyannis bought a new Dodge Power Wagon Brush and Rescue Truck known as Engine 4. The 1947 truck then went to West Barnstable Fire Department where it operated until about September 1975 when it turned over while responding to a plane crash at the Marstons Mills airport. It retired after that and has been privately owned and restored since.

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Town of Barnstable Forest Fire Dept - 1948 Chevy Brush Breaker

Town of Barnstable 1948 Chevy "Crash Truck" Brush Breaker

In 1948, a former military "Airport Crash Truck" was turned into a light duty Brush Breaker by the Town of Barnstable Forest Fire Department. The truck was assigned to the Centerville Fire Station. It carried a few hundred gallons of water. The truck served in Centerville until about 1962 when a larger brush breaker replaced it.

The 1948 truck would then go on to serve as the first fire truck in the Forestdale area of Sandwich from about 1962 until about 1973.

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Town of Barnstable Forest Fire Dept - 210 - 1950 Ford Patrol Truck

Town of Barnstable 1950 Ford Patrol Truck 210

The Town of Barnstable Forest Fire Department replaced the 1938 Ford Patrol Truck with a 1950 Ford Patrol Truck. The truck was assigned to Osterville and would serve until replaced in 1958.

The photo shows the truck with patrolmen Stanley Buckler and Robert Dottridge. Both would go on to serve as Fire Chiefs. Buckler served as the Centerville-Osterville Fire Chief from 1961 to 1973. Dottridge served many years as the Fire Chief in Cotuit.

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Town of Barnstable Forest Fire Dept - 216 - 1952 Ford 800 Gal Brush Breaker

Second generation Town of Barnstable 1952 Ford Brush Breaker

In 1952, a new Ford Marmon Herrington all wheel drive chassis was used to replace the 1937 Ford Brush Breaker. The "second generation" brush breaker utilized much of the 1937 truck including the tank, pump, hose reel and steel bars.

The truck was also known as "216" on the radio and saw a lot of service in Barnstable County and Plymouth County. Sometime around the late 1950s or early 1960s, the old tank was replaced with a new 1000 gallon tank. The truck would serve in Osterville until replaced in 1967. It then served the Barnstable Fire Department for a number of years before retiring.

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Town of Barnstable Forest Fire Dept - 210 - 1958 Ford Patrol Truck

Town of Barnstable 1958 Ford Patrol Truck 210

The Town of Barnstable Forest Fire Department placed a 1958 Ford Patrol Truck in service as "210" in 1958. The newer truck replaced the 1950 Ford Patrol truck. Shown here, in front of the old Osterville Fire Station which at the time housed 1 engine, 1 rescue truck, 1 brush breaker, and the patrol truck, as well as a boat. The Fire Chief's car at the time was a nice looking blue sedan.

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Town of Barn. Forest Fire Dept - 212 - 1962 Inter/Maxim 500 Gal Breaker

Town of Barnstable 1962 International/Maxim 500 gallon Brush Breaker 212

The Town of Barnstable Forest Fire Department built a new Brush Breaker in 1962. The International L-1700 all wheel drive chassis was powered by a gasoline motor and standard transmission. A 500 gallon water tank and heavier duty bars made the truck a considerable upgrade from the 1949 former Crash Truck brush breaker it replaced. The truck had 2 pumps, a 250 gpm mid-ship PTO pump that could be used during structural firefighting, and a rear mount separate motor and 250 gpm pump for the "pump & roll" function.

The truck could be staffed by two personnel in the cab, 2 or more behind the cab, and a couple more on the rear step. The truck was designated at the Town of Barnstable "212" until 1975, when it became property of the Centerville-Osterville Fire Department becoming "317."

The truck served until about 1994 when it was retired from the COMM Fire Department. The truck was purchased by a campground in Wareham and as of 2021 was still operational as a fire truck within the campground if needed.

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Town of Barn. Forest Fire Dept - 216 - 1967 Maxim 1000 Gal Breaker

Town of Barnstable Forest Fire Department 1967 Maxim custom 1000 gallon Brush Breaker 216

In 1967, Maxim Motors in Middleborough, MA built a custom 1000 Gallon Brush Breaker for the Town of Barnstable to replace the 1952 Osterville truck. Maxim had built a number of brush breakers for the Cape since about 1957 when they built a Barnstable County Breaker No.1. This truck was fully custom Maxim using an S Model style cab and hood.

The new breaker was powered by a Waukesha gasoline motor and 5 speed manual transmission with high and low ranges. It had a winch on the front bumper. Two coils of abut 500' of forestry hose were preconnected and stored on top of the body to enable firemen to drag hose into some fires. Four short preconnected hoselines that could be operated by firemen as the truck drove "pump & roll" around fires were located on four corners of the tank. About a 250 gpm pump was powered by another gas engine on the rear step for the pump and roll.

In 1975, ownership of the truck was transferred to the Centerville-Osterville Fire Department. It was eventually repowered with a diesel motor. The truck remained in Osterville until about 1987 when it was reassigned to the Marstons Mills Fire Station. In about 1994, it was reassigned to the new (1991) Centerville Fire Station.

On April 22, 2014, the truck was mechanically damaged at a fire in Mashpee. It would prove to be its last incident, as repairing the 47 year old truck was no longer possible. The truck remained out of service until about 2016 when it left Centerville fore the last time.

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Town of Barn. Forest Fire Dept - 210 - 1967 Ford Patrol Truck

1967 Ford Patrol Truck 210

In 1967, a Ford F150 Patrol Truck was put in service as "210" replacing the 1958 Truck. The patrol truck carried about 200 gallons of water. It remained in service until about 1975 when replaced. Shown in the photo is long time patrolman, and later Forest Warden Herbert Dupris.

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Town of Barn. Forest Fire Dept - 215 - 1969 Dodge Brush Breaker

Town of Barnstable 1969 Dodge Power Wagon Brush Breaker 215

A new brush breaker was built in 1969. A Dodge Power wagon 4x4 chassis was equipped with about a 300 gallon tank and 250 gpm pump to replace the 1947 Dodge brush breaker in Cotuit. The new truck was called "215" on the radio.

In 1975, it became Cotuit Fire Department "Engine 4" also known as "267" on the radio. The small truck was gasoline powred and had a standard transmission. It remained in service bout 32 years until replaced in 2001 by a larger International/EJ Murphy Brush Breaker.

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Town of Barn. Forest Fire Dept - 220 - 1969 Ford Patrol Truck

Town of Barnstable Forest Fire 1969 Patrol Truck.

For a brief period of time, the Town of Barnstable Forest Fire Department operated a second Patrol Truck. It was a 1969 Ford 4x4 with a similar tank and pump. Known as "220" it was also housed in Osterville for a short time. It was transferred to another town department and was no longer serving as a fire truck when then Barnstable Forest Fire Department disbanded in 1975.

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Town of Barn. Forest Fire Dept - 210 - 1975 International Patrol Truck

Town of Barnstable 1975 International Patrol Truck

The "last" of the Town of Barnstable Forest Fire Department purchases was this 1975 International 4x4 Patrol Truck. It was initially designated "210" and replaced the 1967 Patrol Truck.

When the TOBFFD went out of business, the truck was transferred to the West Barnstable Fire Department where it operated as "Forestry 290" for a number of years until replaced in about 1989.

MORE PHOTOS

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Town of Barnstable Forest Fire Dept - 1922 Dodge Patrol Truck

1922

Info

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Town of Barnstable Forest Fire Dept - 1937 Ford COE 800 Gal Brush Breaker

The 1937 Ford 800 gallon Town of Barnstable Brush Breaker shown in front of the
Osterville Fire Station along with the 1938 Ford Patrol Truck and the 1926 Maxim
500 gpm Engine 1 of the Centerville-Osterville Fire District.

The Town of Barnstable 1937 Ford COE Brush Breaker at Osterville Fire Station c.1938.

Side view of the 1937 brush breaker

A well dressed crew observing how the new 1937 Ford Brush Breaker can push over trees and "break brush" to reach and extinguish brush fires.

A colorized photo shows the brand new 1937 Ford Brush Breaker at its first call "before the paint had dried" on April 22, 1937 as a raging forest fire consumed about 2000 acres of woods in the Ridgewood section of Hyannis. Unfortunately, the motor stalled and the truck had to be abandoned as firemen ran for safety. The fire damaged the new truck, burning the tires off it and damaging the new paint job. It would be restored and would serve for years to come.

Newspaper clipping showing the brand new brush breaker as it was damaged at the April 22, 1937 Hyannis Forest Fire.

The 1937 Ford COE "FIRST" Brush Breaker shown in front of the Osterville Fire Station c.1938.

This series of photos are taken from a film documentary of the 1946 Cape Cod Forest Fire that consumed some 15,000 acres. The Town of Barnstable 1937 Ford Brush Breaker is shown coming to the fire and going to work.

These images show the Town of Barnstable truck with a number of riders, probably demonstrating how the truck goes through the woods when there isn't a fire.

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Town of Barnstable Forest Fire Dept - 1938 Ford Patrol Truck

1938

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Town of Barnstable Forest Fire Dept - 1947 Dodge PW Brush Breaker

1947

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Town of Barnstable Forest Fire Dept - 1949

1949

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Town of Barnstable Forest Fire Dept - 1950

1950

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Town of Barnstable Forest Fire Dept - 1952

1952

Info

By 1963 the Centerville-Osterville Fire District opened a large addition to the Osterville fire station adding much needed space for apparatus. Sometime prior to that, the 1952 Ford brush breaker was rebuilt giving it a different look and functional design. The square look reflects the replacement of the original water tank and a protected cowling area behind the cab for firemen to stand while fighting fire as the truck drives through the woods. The reel was also replaced by the coiled forestry hose lines stored above the tank. Also by this time, all apparatus had radios and this truck was known as "216" on the county radio channel.

This truck remained in service until replaced in 1967 by a new Maxim brush breaker. It then went on to serve the Barnstable Fire District for several years.

On top of the brush breaker are two pre-piped bays for coiled forestry hose which does not collapse like ordinary hose when the pump pressure is shut down. This way, water is able to flow through the hose whether 20 feet or 200 feet or hose are pulled off the truck. This would have been an improvement over the hose reel on the original truck. Along with the hose, a variety of equipment including shovels, axes, helmets, and equipment used fighting fires.

Note the number "216" is painted on the roof of the cab on this and other brush breakers. The numbers on the roofs of apparatus enable the fire plane spotter to recognize and direct brush breakers into safe areas or to avoid obstacles.

This photo shows the new cowling area behind the cab for firemen to ride and fight fire from with some protection.

The Town of Barnstable brush breaker 216, along with many other brush breakers from Cape Cod would often be sent on mutual aid to large fires in Plymouth County. Here is 216 and a Plymouth breaker at a huge fire in Carver in May of 1964.

The 1952 Ford is shown here just after coming out of the woods. One of the important things to do when coming out for water or reassignment is to clear a lot of brush a debris from the truck, check the brakes, tires, and other potential vehicle damage before fueling up and going back into the woods.

A hose line rests on the roof of the cab of the breaker indicating the truck had probably just come from some intense firefighting. Hose lines in addition to extinguishing fire, are sometimes used to protect the truck and personnel when things get hot.

The Osterville brush breaker is shown here working a grass fire. Grass fires have a different level of fuel load, but can still burn quickly and threaten structures or crops. A quick drive around the fire preventing the head fire from extending can bring these fires under control.

Firemen riding on the brush breaker as it is slowly driven around the fire line are able to knock down fire and once stopped, the fire can be mopped up by wetting down hot spots and deep seated smoldering fire. The driver and officer must judge the need to quickly reach the head fire, with the need to prevent side fires from advancing and turning into new head fires. On larger fires, several breakers would work in a line together with the first truck quickly heading for stopping forward progress of the fire, while additional trucks follow and make sure the sideline is contained.

Hose lines operating off the water tank of the brush breaker are used to fight 'pit fires" at a drill at the fire academy.

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Town of Barnstable Forest Fire Dept - 1958

1958

Fires at the town dump in Marstons Mills were a common occurance. Here the patrol truck arrives to go to work on the fire. Brush breakers would also respond carrying hundreds of gallons of water and having all wheel drive could get around these fires.

Info

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Town of Barnstable Forest Fire Dept - 1962

1962

Info

The Town of Barnstable built a new brush breaker in 1962. The International 6 wheel all wheel drive chassis was turned into a brush breaker by Maxim Motors in Middlebro. It was originally called brush breaker "212" and assigned to the Centerville Fire Station for many years. It had a rear mounted pump and roll fire pump and a midship mounted Leonard gear pump for stationary pumping. The truck carried 500 gallons of water and had a winch.

In 1975 when the TOB Forest Fire Department dissolved this truck was purchased by the Centerville-Osterville FD and reassigned as Breaker 317, also known as Truck 17 on the fire alarm channel for sometime.

The 1962 brush breaker at a stump dump fire in the 1980's. Design of this truck was similar in many ways from the refurbished 1952 Ford breaker with the cowling behind the cab, 500 gallon water tank, twin coiled hose lines, and rear mounted pump. Also shown are the C-O FD 1975 Mack Engine 5 and the rear of West Barnstable's 1985 Pierce Engine-Tanker 296.

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Town of Barnstable Forest Fire Dept - 1922

1967

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Town of Barnstable Forest Fire Dept - 1967

1967

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Town of Barnstable Forest Fire Dept - 1969

1969

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Town of Barnstable Forest Fire Dept - 1969

1969

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Town of Barnstable Forest Fire Dept - 1975

1975

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NEW UNIT

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MAP

THE FIRST BRUSH BREAKER
The Osterville Fire Station served as the Town of Barnstable Forest Fire Department's Headquarters.
This photo shows the first brush breaker, a 1937 Ford Brush Breaker, a 1922 Dodge fire truck which served as the town's
first patrol truck, and the 1938 Ford Patrol Truck.

THE STORY OF BRUSH BREAKERS

The story of how the Cape Cod brush breakers came about starts with an understanding of what Cape Cod was like in the "old days." This feature tries to document and explain how the fire departments on Cape Cod and in southeastern Massachusetts adapted vehicles to battle forest fires that burned thousands of acres of woods each year.

As the story goes, prior to 1937 or so, grass, brush, and woods fires were battled by hand, with hose lines that could reach a fire from a road. The alternative was to use hand tools and pump cans, but this was only good for smaller fires.

By 1937, vehicles had apparently become large enough and powerful enough to be enhanced with steel bars, sufficient size water tanks, and pumps to go off road and reach fires deeper in the woods than previously possible. By accessing fires quicker, while still small, they were able to reduce a great deal of danger and damage.

The fire chief in Osterville, Bernard S. Ames also served as the forest fire warden (common in those days). He and some of the other men, including Carl Starck who owned the local garage, and others no doubt, got together and turned a 1937 Ford COE (Cab Over Engine) chassis into a vehicle that came to be known as a "Brush Breaker" by welding steel bars and chassis protection to a truck with a large (believed to be about 800 gallons) tank and a pump.

The truck was not even finished according to stories, when it responded to its first fire, a large woods fire in Hyannis. The paint wasn't even dry, and surely no one had any experience driving it. The truck got caught in the fire and burned at the first fire it responded to. It was of course rebuilt and became an example from which other departments designed and built trucks for their own communities.

There continued to be many, many wildland type fires over the years and a number of generations of brush breakers have come and gone over the years. Each generation brought new innovations and adapted to changing conditions. Teams of brush breakers working together on Cape Cod established what became a mutual aid system and helped reduce the damage done by large out of control fires.

Brush breakers are designed to literally go off road, push over trees as needed, to enter a forest or wildland area to reach a fire and extinguish it while it is still small enough to put out. The alternative is to allow the fire to grow substantially larger as it burns and destroys until it eventually reaches homes or other populated areas. The innovation of this apparatus worked here on the Cape because of the terrain, type of forestation, and other factors somewhat unique to the area.

Brush breakers are still in use today and while the larger fires have been less often, the potential for them continues to exist. New apparatus continues to be built in anticipation of future fires. These pages show the development and use of apparatus used in battling brush and forest fires around the Cape.

OSTERVILLE FIRE STATION
The Centerville-Osterville Fire District was established in 1926 and two fire stations were built, one in each village.
The Osterville station, at 999 Main Street, did double duty as the Town of Barnstable's Forest Fire headquarters station as well.
This photo taken around 1938 shows the Osterville station and the apparatus housed at the time.
C&O Engine 1 was a 1926 Maxim 500 gpm pumper.
TOB Forest Fire Dept patrol truck was a 1938 Ford patrol truck.
and TOB Forest Fire Department 1937 Ford COE was the first brush breaker on Cape Cod.

The "First" of Cape Cod's Brush Breakers.
Built by the Town of Barnstable Forest Fire Department in 1937 on a Ford Chassis.
It was built at Carl Starck's Garage on Main Street, Osterville.
Designed by T.O.B. Forest Warden and Centerville-Osterville Fire District Chief Bernard .S. Ames
it had all wheel drive, an 800 gallon water tank, steel bars, and a Leonard fire pump.
This unique apparatus was badly damaged by its first major fire, in Hyannis on May 5, 1937,
even before it was officially in service. It was rebuilt and served until 1952 at the
Osterville Fire Station.

Photo showing early trials or training with the new brush breaker in 1937.

A ROUGH START
The 1937 Ford brush breaker was called to one of its first fires before it's paint had even dried.
This fire in the Ridgewood Avenue area of Hyannis on May 5, 1937 burned over 2000 acres into the Cummaquid area of town.
This newspaper clipping shows the raging fire as it destroyed the brand new brush breaker.
The truck was rebuilt and served until 1952.

This newspaper clipping shows the Ridgewood Ave., Hyannis fire and the new brush breaker at the May 5, 1937 fire which badly damaged the new truck. The fire burned some 2,000 acres from Hyannis into the Cummaquid area of Barnstable.

1937 Ford brush breaker in Osterville.

This 1947 Dodge Power Wagon was made into a small brush breaker which served the Town of Barnstable for more than 20 years. The truck had approximately 300 gallons of water and was modified a few times over the years based on where it was assigned. Here it is shown with two hose reels. In other photos, the reels had been removed in favor of a coiled hose bed.

This truck started out in West Barnstable two years before the West Barnstable Fire District was established in 1949. It was then reassigned and served the majority of its career at the Cotuit Fire Station until replaced in 1969 by a new Dodge Power Wagon. The 1947 truck then spent several years at the Hyannis Fire Station, before returning to West Barnstable for a couple years.

The Town of Barnstable Forest Fire Department had several vehicles.
This brush breaker was built on a 1947 Dodge Power Wagon chassis.
It served in Cotuit as Breaker 217 until 1969.
It later saw duty in Hyannis and finally in West Barnstable.

The 1947 Dodge Power Wagon brush breaker assigned to the Cotuit Fire Station.

The Town of Barnstable breaker 217 at Cotuit.

The 1947 Cotuit brush breaker 217.

The brush breaker is on the left in front of the Cotuit fire station.

Town of Barnstable Forest Fire patrolmen stand with their 1950 patrol truck.
Patrol trucks were typically the only manned apparatus in town and were often first to arrive at
incidents of any type. When not fighting fires, they maintained fire roads and equipment.

The next several images of the 1937 Ford Town of Barnstable brush breaker are clipped from a film documenting a huge three day 15,000 acre forest fire in the Bourne-Sandwich area in 1946.

This appears to be the Town of Barnstable's 1938 Ford Patrol Truck responding out of the Cotuit Fire Station in the film documenting the 1946 Bourne-Sandwich forest fire.

The Town of Barnstable's 1938 Ford Patrol Truck is shown with the Forest Fire Department's first fire truck, a 1922 Dodge in front of the Osterville Fire Station c.1938. The 1938 truck probably replaced the 16 year old 1922 truck.

1938 FORD PATROL TRUCK

The Town of Barnstable operated this 1938 Ford pickup truck as a forest fire patrol truck. A small water tank, perhaps 150 gallons or so, and a small fire pump would enable this truck to reach and extinguish many of the smaller accessible type brush and grass fires. Patrol trucks were some of the first to be equipped with radios to communicate with spotters in area fire towers that would line up smokes and advise the patrol truck which would then respond to investigate or attack fires many times before larger apparatus responded.

The Town of Barnstable 1938 Ford Patrol Truck was assigned to the Osterville Fire Station which served as the Forest Fire Department's headquarters.

The 1938 Ford patrol truck appears to be on the left working with engines from Hyannis including the 1926 Ahrens Fox Engine 1, 1937 GMC Engine 3, and the 1930s Maxim Engine 2.

The Town of Barnstable converted a Dodge Power Wagon which served as the original crash truck at the Hyannis Airport into a small brush breaker which was assigned to the Centerville Fire Station. The small truck is shown on the left in front of the old Centerville station, along with the Centerville-Osterville Fire District's 1942 Ford Engine 4 and 1950 Ford/Maxim Engine 2, and the Town's1950 Ford patrol truck. Photo 1953.

The Town of Barnstable operated this 1950 Ford pickup truck as a patrol truck. This truck probably replaced the 1938 Ford patrol truck and would have been assigned to Osterville. Town forest fire patrolmen Stanley Buckler and Robert Dottridge, both of whom would later serve as fire chiefs within the town (Buckler in Centerville-Osterville and Dottridge in Cotuit), are shown with the truck.

Brush breakers tended to carry more water than other fire engines. Frequently they were utilized at building fires to supply hose lines or to supplement what pumpers may have carried, or to fight fire while pumpers established a water supply. The 1952 brush breaker is shown here at a house fire in Osterville in the 1950's.

This truck remained in service until replaced in 1967 by a new Maxim brush breaker. It then went on to serve the Barnstable Fire District for several years.

This photo shows the new cowling area behind the cab for firemen to ride and fight fire from with some protection.

Hose lines operating off the water tank of the brush breaker are used to fight 'pit fires" at a drill at the fire academy.

The Town of Barnstable replaced the 1950 Ford patrol truck around 1958 with another Ford. Here it is shown in 1962 in front of the Osterville Fire Station along with the fire chief's car. The patrol truck would have had about a 150 gallon water tank.

Protecting Cape Cod from forest fires was a joint effort. Here the Town of Barnstable's patrol truck 210 meets up at the Marstons Mills airfield with the Barnstable County Fire Patrol Plane P-18 and a Barnstable County Forest Fire Department patrol truck. Town and County departments would work with the State's forest fire towers and apparatus to quickly spot and control forest fires.

The new 1967 Maxim brush breaker was tested and checked out before being painted and delivered. Several photos from that testing show the primed truck going through the test.

The apparatus housed at the Osterville Fire Station in 1967 included from left to right, the 1967 Town of Barnstable brush breaker 216, the 1960 International Squad Truck 302, the 1963 International/Maxim pumper 309 "Engine 4", the 1950 Ford/Maxim 307 "Engine 1", the 1966 Chevy ambulance 303, and the 1967 Ford Town of Barnstable patrol truck 210.

In about 1975 the Town of Barnstable decided to dissolve the Forest Fire Department and four of the remaining apparatus were transferred to the fire districts which operated them. Brush Breaker 216 became Centerville-Osterville Brush Breaker 316 and would serve for many more years.

The 1967 Maxim brush breaker was initially assigned to Osterville, but served years at both the Marstons Mills and Centerville fire stations.

In 1967 the Town of Barnstable Forest Fire Department had a new brush breaker built on a Maxim custom chassis. The 10 wheel, all wheel drive truck had a 1000 gallon water tank, 250 gpm rear pump, and was of similar design to previous trucks. This truck had a Waukesha gasoline motor and 5 speed manual transmission with all wheel drive mode. When delivered it replaced the 1952 Ford brush breaker which was then transferred to the Barnstable Fire District for several years.

This "third generation" Town of Barnstable brush breaker would later be transferred to the Centerville-Osterville Fire District around 1975 and would serve as Breaker 316 until about 2015 when it would be taken out of service after a total of nearly 47 years of service.

The 1967 Breaker 316 responded on mutual aid to a brush fire near Compass Lane in Mashpee on April 22, 2014. About 6 acres were scorched. As it would turn out, this ended up being the last fire for two brush breakers which were later permanently taken out of service due to mechanical repair problems. One was Mashpee Breaker 353 and the other COMM Breaker 316 which would remain at the COMM HQ into 2016.

In 1967 the Town f Barnstable replaced the 1958 Ford patrol truck with a new 1967 Ford patrol truck. It also had a 150 gallon tank and pump. The patrol truck even had a topographical map with fire tower lines mounted on the ceiling of the cab to line up smokes seen by fire towers. Patrolman Herbert "Buddy" Dupuis is shown with the truck. Dupuis later served as the Forest Fire Warden for the Town of Barnstable. This truck was replaced by another patrol truck in 1975.

In 1969 a Dodge Power Wagon was made into a brush breaker for the Cotuit station. This truck replaced the 1947 Dodge Power Wagon brush breaker. It had a 300 gallon tank, rear mounted pump and winch. It was originally Town of Barnstable brush breaker 215. In 1975 when the Town of Barnstable Forest Fire Department dissolved it became Cotuit Breaker 267 "Engine 4." This truck would continue to serve until 2001.

The Town had one patrol truck for many years. In 1969, a second patrol truck was added to the roster. Also housed in Osterville, the Ford patrol truck served until the mid 1970s.

The 1969 Ford Patrol Truck 220 along with C-O FD Squad 302 operating at a brush fire in Marstons Mills.

In the mid 1970's the TOB Forest Fire Department was dissolved. The 1969 Ford pickup was taken over by the shellfish department and no longer served as a fire apparatus.

The last of the Town of Barnstable Forest Fire Department purchases was a 1975 4x4 pickup truck Patrol Truck, originally Patrol 210. Soon after it was put in service, the TOB Forest Fire Dept. dissolved and the truck was transferred to the West Barnstable Fire Department and designated as Patrol 290. It had a 150 gallon tank and was very similar to previous patrol trucks.

The Town of Barnstable 1975 International 4x4 Patrol 210 would soon become West Barnstable's Patrol 290. It would serve for several years before being replaced. This represents the last of the Town of Barnstable Forest Fire Department's apparatus.