The Charleston
Fire Department, Charleston, Illinois
Learning On-Line
Resource by Howard Taylor
Fire Equipment of the Modern Years
1953 The Quad
Howe Pumper/ Tanker 1959
American LaFrance 1967
1973 Ambulance Service added to CFD
As with its small
fire department, the first ambulance was small to begin with and offered
only basic ambulance service. During the 1980's Paramedic service was
introduced and two modular units and a backup van are used in the present.
Paramedic service was slow to be adopted because of costs for training and
equipment. In the old days of Charleston (1940's-50's) Chief Taylor
was a "meat wagon" driver for local funeral homes. No oxygen and little
care was offered the unfortunate sick and injured as was the case in most
small towns in the old days.
1980 Seagrave Pumper & Aerial Truck
