Guardians of The City SFFD Home Page - San Francisco Fire Department Museum
Apparatus: Motorized

Rescue Units
San Francisco Fire Department
In Order of Purchase
1914 - 2009

Shop # Year & Manufacture Details
543* 1914 American LaFrance Type-12 Squad Wagon, chain drive, with one 35-gallon soda-acid chemical tank
  Leased for the Panama-Pacific International Exposition
    Registration #543  
  Engine: American LaFrance 6-cylinder, 100 HP
  Received in San Francisco on April 18, 1914
   
  In Service Company Details
  Assignments:
    April 18, 1914 - January 1916 Panama-Pacific International Exposition, Station 1
    January 1916 Returned to American LaFrance for sale elsewhere
  * (American LaFrance registration number of leased apparatus that were used in 1914)

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Shop # Year & Manufacture Details
RS-1 1914 American LaFrance Type-12 Squad Wagon - Originally known as the "Flying Squad"
    Registration #624  
  Engine: American LaFrance Type 12, motor #278, 6-cylinder, 100 HP
  Carried general rescue equipment and a portable communications telephone system using 250 feet of wire on a spool for use in high-rise buildings
  Received in San Francisco on September 4, 1914
  THE FIRST RESCUE SQUAD IN THE DEPARTMENT
  1922: Rebuilt in the Shop
   
  In Service Company Details
  Assignments:
    1915 - April 17, 1930  Rescue 1
    April 17, 1930 Reserve
      Sold

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Shop # Year & Manufacture Details
RS-2 1913 White Hose Wagon
  Engine: White 4-cylinder, 40 HP
  1922: converted in the SFFD Corporation Shops from a Combination Chemical-Hose Wagon (CW-15) to a transport vehicle with bench seats  for use as a personnel carrier at the Drill Tower to transport firemen to large fires. Shop Number changed to RS-2
   
  In Service Company Details
  Assignments: (Pre-conversion, see Combination Chemical-Hose Wagons)
    1922 - 1946  Drill Tower Squad
    1946 Scrapped

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Shop # Year & Manufacture Details
RS-3 1930 Mack Type 19, Model 6AP-6S, Rescue Squad
    Registration #682100  
  Engine: Mack 6-cylinder, 150 HP
  Body built and installed on the chassis in the SFFD Corporation Yard Shop.  An amplifier and public-address system installed later.
   
  In Service Company Details
  Assignments:
    April 17, 1930 - June 13, 1960 Rescue 1
    June 13, 1960 - July 8, 1962  Reserve
    July 8, 1962 Damaged in an accident and sold

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Shop # Year & Manufacture Details
RS-4 1942 Dodge Rescue Squad
    Registration #9278068  
  Engine: Dodge heavy duty, 150 HP
  1942: A Red Cross heavy duty Rescue Squad truck during World War II, painted white
  1947:  Donated to the SFFD by the Red Cross
  1947: A new Rescue body was built and installed on the chassis in the SFFD Corporation Yard Shop, body color changed to SFFD red
   
  In Service Company Details
  Assignments:
    1947 - July 15, 1957 Known as the Utility Squad at Engine Co. No. 4
    July 15, 1957 - 1960 Rescue 2 at Engine Co. No. 15
    1960 - 1970 Reserve
    1970 Sold

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Shop # Year & Manufacture Details
RS-5 1955 American LaFrance "700" Series Rescue Squad
    Registration #9401  
  Engine: American LaFrance V-12, 275 HP
  1960: converted from Tank Wagon (TW-20) to a Rescue Unit with a body built by "Modern Vehicle Co, Inc."  Motor replaced with a Ford heavy-duty truck motor
  1970: Shop number changed to 825 and cab added
   
  In Service Company Details
  Assignments: (Pre-conversion, see Tank Wagons)
    June 13, 1960 - 1977 Rescue 1

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Shop # Year & Manufacture Details
RS-6 1956 Seagrave "70th Anniversary" Series Rescue Squad
    Registration #J-2295  
  Engine: Seagrave V-12, 300 HP
  1959-1960: converted from Tank Wagon (TW-21) to a Rescue Squad. The Tank Wagon body was removed and a Rescue Squad body built by the Modern Vehicle Co, Inc. installed.  Shop number changed to RS-6.
  1970: Shop number changed to 826
   
  In Service Company Details
  Assignments: (Pre-conversion, see Tank Wagons)
    1960 - 1970  Rescue 2
    1970 - November 1987 Reserve
    November 1987 Transferred to the apparatus collection of the Museum

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Shop # Year & Manufacture Details
829 1970 Ford "C-1000" tilt-cab chassis
  A Rescue Squad body was built and installed at the Central Fire Shops
  Engine: Caterpillar 8-cylinder diesel, 225 HP
   
  In Service Company Details
  Assignments:
    1970 - November 1987 Rescue 2
    November 1987 - September 1995 Reserve
    September 1995 Chassis scrapped and the body installed on chassis #891

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Shop # Year & Manufacture Details
807 1966 International "Metrovan" walk-in Truck
  Engine: International, 175 HP
  1971: Converted in the Central Fire Shops from a Police Department patrol wagon into a Water Rescue Unit with storage for SCUBA gear and other associated equipment
   
  In Service Company Details
  Assignments:
    January 1972 - 1988 Water Rescue Unit
    1988 Sold

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Shop # Year & Manufacture Details
883 1973 Ford 4x4 1-ton Truck Cliff Rescue Unit
  Engine: Ford, 144 HP
  Body built and installed in the Central Fire Shops including a front-mounted winch
   
  In Service Company Details
  Assignments:
    1974 - November 2001 Cliff Rescue Unit 1
    November 2001 - March 2002 Coastal Rescue Unit (re-designation only)
    March 2002 Sold

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Shop # Year & Manufacture Details
870 1975 Ford "C-1000" tilt-cab chassis Salvage Unit refitted for use as a Rescue Squad
    Registration #B-35395  
  Engine: Caterpillar 8-cylinder diesel, 225 HP
  1977: converted into a Rescue Unit from a Salvage Unit; retained the shop #870.  Salvage equipment removed and rescue appliances installed
   
  In Service Company Details
  Assignments: (Pre-conversion, see Salvage Units)
    1977 - March 23, 1996 Rescue 1
    March 23, 1996 Destroyed in an accident

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Shop # Year & Manufacture Details
887 1986 Welch-Ford ''C-8000'' tilt-cab Rescue Squad
  Engine: Caterpillar 8-cylinder turbo-charged diesel, 350 HP
  1977: converted into a Rescue Unit from a Salvage Unit; retained the shop #870.  Salvage equipment removed and rescue appliances installed
   
  In Service Company Details
  Assignments:
    November 1987 - 2000 Rescue 2
  2000: Rebuilt in the Central Fire Shops, compartments modified; generator rebuilt; new L.E.D. floodlights installed
    August 26, 2002 - November 2004 Rescue 2
    Nov. 2004 - Present (Nov. 2009)  Reserve

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Shop # Year & Manufacture Details
802 1973 Ford Surf Rescue Unit
  Engine: Ford, 144 HP
  1988: converted from Mini Pumper in City & County Central Fire Shops for conversion to a Surf Rescue Unit.  Tank, pump and all       equipment removed. Camper top installed; rescue boat mounted on top; water rescue gear installed.  Shop #802 retained
   
  In Service Company Details
  Assignments: (Pre-conversion, see Tank Wagons)
    1988 - June 2002 Surf Rescue Unit 1
    June 2002 Sold

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Shop # Year & Manufacture Details
800 1971 Ford "Econoline" Van
  Engine: Ford
  1995: Temporarily equipped with "McKay" smoke helmets and other tunnel rescue gear during the re-construction project of the Municipal Railway's Twin Peaks transit tunnel
   
  In Service Company Details
  Assignments:
    1971 - April 1995 Service Bureau Van
    April 1995 - September 1995 Tunnel Rescue Unit 1
    September 1995- Returned to Services Bureau

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Shop # Year & Manufacture Details
881 1987 Ford "C-8000" tilt-cab chassis
  Engine: Caterpillar 8-cylinder diesel, 250 HP
  1995   September: Converted from a Water Department Dump Truck to a Rescue Squad with the body from the 1970 Ford "C-1000" tilt-cab chassis, shop #829
   
  In Service Company Details
  Assignments:
    1995 - March 23, 1996 Reserve
    March 23, 1996 - August 1997 Rescue 1
    August 1997 - 2000 Reserve
    2000 - August 26, 2002 Rescue 2
    August 26, 2002 - July 2004 Reserve
    July 2004 - November 2004 Rescue 1
    November 2004 Sold

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Shop # Year & Manufacture Details
869 1996 3-D Metals on a Spartan "GT-l" chassis Rescue Squad
  Engine: Cummins rear-mounted turbo-charged diesel, 350 HP
  In addition to standard rescue appliances, this unit contains a built-in generator, light tower, and reel-mounted electrical and air lines for power equipment
   
  In Service Company Details
  Assignments:
    August 1997 - July 2004 Rescue 1
    July 2004 - November 2004 Reserve
    November 2004 Sold

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Shop # Year & Manufacture Details
892 2000 Ford "F-150" 4x4 Surf Rescue Unit
  Engine: Ford-IHC diesel, 350 HP
  Equipment boxes mounted on chassis. Gear and appliances from Shop #802 transferred to this unit
   
  In Service Company Details
  Assignments:
    May 2002 - Present (Nov. 2009) Surf Rescue Unit

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Shop # Year & Manufacture Details
893 2000 Ford "F-150" 4x4 Coastal Rescue Unit
  Engine: Ford-IHC diesel, 350 HP
  This unit has a front-mounted winch with equipment boxes mounted on chassis. Gear and appliances from Shop #883 transferred to this unit
   
  In Service Company Details
  Assignments:
    March 2002 - Present (Nov. 2009) Coastal Rescue Unit

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Shop # Year & Manufacture Details
861 2004 American LaFrance "Eagle" Series Rescue Squad, with enclosed 4-door cab
  Engine: Detroit Diesel Series 60, 515 HP
  Contains a built-in Onan 15,000 Watt generator, light tower, and reel-mounted electrical and air lines for power equipment
   
  In Service Company Details
  Assignments:
    Nov. 2004 - Present (Nov 2009) Rescue 1

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Shop # Year & Manufacture Details
862 2004 American LaFrance "Eagle" Series Rescue Squad, with enclosed 4-door cab
  Engine: Detroit Diesel Series 60, 515 HP
  Contains a built-in Onan 15,000 Watt generator, light tower, and reel-mounted electrical and air lines for power equipment
   
  In Service Company Details
  Assignments:
    Nov. 2004 - Present (Nov 2009) Rescue 2

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Shop # Year & Manufacture Details
817 2005 Ford "F-450" Emergency Structural Collapse Unit
  Engine: Ford-IHC Diesel, 350 HP
  With utility body compartments carrying heavy rescue equipment for major building collapses
  2005:  A Wells Cargo Trailer, shop #9007, carrying additional heavy rescue equipment, is towed by this unit
  2006: Wells Cargo Trailer, #9016, carrying additional heavy rescue gear; with an Onan "Homesuite 6500" 5000 Watt electrical generator installed on the front of the body. The unit also carries a telescoping light boom.  Trailer #9007 transferred to Airport Station No. 1
   
  In Service Company Details
  Assignments:
    July 28, 2006- Present (Nov. 2009) Light Rescue 7

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Shop # Year & Manufacture Details
818 2005 Ford "F-450" Emergency Structural Collapse Unit
  Engine: Ford-IHC Diesel, 350 HP
  With utility body compartments carrying heavy rescue equipment for major building collapses
  2005: A Wells Cargo Trailer, shop #9008, carrying additional heavy rescue equipment, is towed by this unit
  2006: Wells Cargo Trailer, #9017, carrying additional heavy rescue gear; with an Onan "Homesuite 6500" 5000 Watt electrical generator installed on the front of the body. The unit also carries a telescoping light boom.  Trailer #9008 stored at Hunters' Point Naval Base Fire Station
   
  In Service Company Details
  Assignments:
    Sept. 2006 - Present (Nov. 2009)  Light Rescue 5

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Shop # Year & Manufacture Details
864 2006 American LaFrance "Metropolitan" Heavy Rescue, with "Eagle" cab-front
  Engine: Cummins IFL Diesel, 400 HP
  Equipped for handling Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosives incidents and includes a built-in Onan 25,000 Watt electric generator for power equipment
   
  In Service Company Details
  Assignments:
    2007 - Present (Nov. 2009) CBRNE-1

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