Engine 3 (1930s)

1930 American LaFrance Foamite

The American LaFrance Foamite, designated locally as Engine 3, was a specialized fire suppression apparatus acquired by the department during a period of rapid advancement in firefighting technology. Factory records indicate the apparatus was shipped from American LaFrance on June 23, 1930. While the exact date it was formally placed into service is unknown due to incomplete historical documentation, the Foamite unit represented a significant enhancement in the department’s ability to combat flammable-liquid and fuel-related fires through the application of firefighting foam.

American LaFrance Foamite apparatus were specifically engineered to address hazards that traditional water-only engines were less effective against, reflecting the department’s early efforts to adapt to emerging industrial and transportation fire risks. Although much of the detailed operational history has been lost to time, the unit’s acquisition demonstrates a forward-thinking commitment to specialized suppression capabilities uncommon for departments of the era.

At some point later in its service life, the Foamite was ultimately removed from front-line duty and scrapped, though the exact date and circumstances surrounding its final disposition are unknown. Earlier interpretations incorrectly associated the June 23, 1930 shipment date with its scrapping; however, that date reflects its delivery from the manufacturer, not its removal from service.

Despite the limited surviving records, the 1930 American LaFrance Foamite remains a noteworthy chapter in the department’s apparatus history, illustrating both the experimental nature of early specialized firefighting equipment and the evolving challenges faced by fire departments in the early twentieth century.

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