Malden Fire’s newest addition to the fleet of fire apparatus is equipped with state of the art technologies, including a multiplex computer system which provides the operator with important information relating to the overall status of safety and mechanical systems. Another example is the Pierce Pressure Governor which automatically adjusts the engine speed/rpms needed to maintain adequate water pressure in hose lines which serves multiple purposes. Automatic adjustment of the engine speed during pumping operations conserves fuel, reduces engine wear and also protects hose line teams from pressure fluctuations which can be very dangerous. Engine 1 is the busiest engine in the City as it responds to every call, including medical aid calls. The new engine replaces the existing Engine 1 that has been in service since 1999 and will now be identified as “Engine 5” to be used as a spare.
Local 902 Firefighters were instrumental in the design of the custom built engine that was uniquely tailored to Malden’s specifications, taking into consideration the size of the garage at Salem Street where it’s housed and Malden’s hills, narrow streets and tight roads.
Malden’s very first fire engine was a hand tub Malden purchased from England in 1820, which firefighters named the “Alert 1” and from that time on every new fire engine that replaced it was named with a “1”. In 1864, Malden purchased its very first steam powered horse drawn engine named “The Wanalancet Steam Fire Engine Company #1.” In the 1800s all fire engines were named and numbered as to how many pieces were in service, much like today, although today engines are not named. The Department is contemplating having “The Wanalancet SFE Co 1” lettered in small scroll on the new Engine 1 in tribute to the Department’s first powered engine.