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Posted: Jul 3, 2025

Rockport (MA) Fire Apparatus Showcase Town’s Artistic Legacy

Gail McCarthy
Gloucester Daily Times, Mass.
(TNS)

ROCKPORT — The artistic legacy in Rockport runs deep, surfacing in many facets of town life, including the Rockport Fire Department.

Ken Knowles, an award-winning artist and gallery owner, hand-paints the town seal — a picturesque ocean view of Thacher Island’s twin lighthouses — on the town’s fire trucks.

He does it in memory of his father, Sheldon O. Knowles Jr., a Rockport firefighter who died in 1993 at the age of 53.

“The reason why I do this is simple,” Ken Knowles said. “My father was a major part of the Fire Department for more than 25 years. He was one of the first EMTs back in the early 1970s. He was very proud of that and I was very proud of him. Growing up with a scanner in the house was interesting, always hearing all the fire calls and police calls, and he’d get up in the middle of the night when a box alarm came in.”

In the wake of his death, Knowles was asked if he would paint the town seal on a new truck, and ever since then, he has continued to volunteer his talents. If one looks closely, the brush strokes can been seen as well as his signature near the bottom edge.

This week, Knowles painted the town’s emblem on a new Combination A fire truck for the Pigeon Cove station.

The unusual twin lighthouses are a favorite subject of the Rockport artist and often appear in his paintings.

Fire Chief Mark Wonson said it is special to have these town seals hand-painted on the trucks and it is appreciated.

For those who worked with the late firefighter, he was remembered for his love of the Rockport Fire Department.

“Sheldon loved Rockport and he was dedicated to the Fire Department,” former Fire Chief James Doyle said. “He loved his kids and his friends. He went way too soon.”

Ken Knowles, who has been painting since he was 15, has been an artist for 43 years, and continues to donate his artworks for a fundraising raffle or auction to help nonprofits make money. These organizations include Care Dimensions, Lights of Love to benefit cancer care services, and Rockport Illuminations, when he donates a painting to raise money for the annual town fireworks display.

Locals and visitors can take in the hand-painted town seals during the annual Rockport Firemen’s Parade on the Fourth of July. The parade kicks off at 6 p.m. from the Rockport public school complex on Jerden’s Lane, continuing down South Street to Dock Square, to Main Street to Beach Street, concluding at the American Legion bandstand near Back Beach.

An 8 p.m. concert at the bandstand will be followed at 9 p.m. by the annual bonfire at Back Beach under the watchful eyes of firefighters.

Gail McCarthy may be contacted at 978-675-2706, or gmccarthy@northofboston.com.

© 2025 the Gloucester Daily Times (Gloucester, Mass.). Visit www.gloucestertimes.com. Distributed by Read more

Posted: Jul 3, 2025

Fire Apparatus of the Day: July 3, 2025

MIDWEST FIRE—Ashton (IL) Fire Protection District pumper-tanker. Freightliner M2 112 cab and chassis; Cummins L9 450-hp engine; Waterous CX 1,250-gpm pump; APR polypropylene 3,000-gallon water tank; Newton 10- inch stainless steel electric dump valve; Zico electric tip- down portable tank carrier and 3,000-gallon portable tank; All-Poly™ construction. Dealer: Jeff Bowen, Midwest Fire, Luverne, MN.

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Posted: Jul 2, 2025

New $2.1 Million Ladder Truck in Beaver Dam (WI) Comes With Some Big Upgrades

TERRI PEDERSON
WiscNews
(TNS)

Beaver Dam’s new ladder truck arrived in the city on Wednesday ushering in a new level of fire protection for area residents.

The $2.1 million vehicle was purchased from Seagrave Fire Apparatus out of Clintonville and is a Seagrave Marauder II Aerialscope. It will replace the ladder truck that Beaver Dam has had since 2000, which has been sold to Tomah, Beaver Dam Fire Department Capt. Wesley Jahnke said.

“The truck is going to give us more capabilities operations wise,” Jahnke said. “We have more ground ladders, quicker set up times. We are hoping to get it in service in the next month or so. We just want to make sure everyone is trained up on it.”

Beaver Dam should build a new fire station, architect tells the Common Council

“The facility has served you guys really well for a long time,” architect Laura Eysongle said.

Staff from Seagrave will be giving training on the truck this week, Jahnke said.

“We have added safety features on here, like the back-up camera,” Jahnke said. “There are better securing devices for our air packs on here. Overall, there is a lot of advancement in technology over the last 25 years.”

The ladder device on the truck is one of the fastest on the market, he said, which will make getting the bucket up and down quicker during emergencies.

“It is extremely stable, and handle a lot of weight in the bucket,” he said. “We could be flowing a 1,000 lbs. of water and have a 1,000 lbs. up there in respect of personnel and we can flow water and move it around wherever we want to. Whereas the old one, we were unable to do that so definitely a lot more capabilities with this one.”

The 2000 truck is getting some service done but will be back this week. Jahnke said they do not know exactly when it will leave Beaver Dam for its new home.

The new truck reflects a lot of the fire department’s past.

“With the graphics, we tried to bring in a lot of history of the department,” Jahnke said. “You will also see our five core values (service, compassion, pride, professionalism, commitment) on the side of it.”

The Germania Fire Company is honored on the front of the fire truck, he said. It was the first fire company in Beaver Dam and was created after German immigrants petitioned the city to form a fire brigade in 1861. In addition, there are other phrases and graphics on the truck honoring the past.

“We wanted to pay homage to the history of the department,” he said. “Fire departments have a lot of tradition, so we wanted to bring some of that out.”

Crafted by the community, Beaver Dam F

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Posted: Jul 2, 2025

Fire Apparatus of the Day: July 2, 2025

KME—Brevard (NC) Fire Department rescue. Gladiator cab and chassis with 20-inch raised roof; Cummins X12 500- hp engine; 22-foot walk-around rescue body; Onan 15-kW generator; stairwell in rear of body; driver-side full-length awning; transverse compartments. Dealer: Oameron Marler, Safe Industries, Easley, SO.

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Posted: Jul 1, 2025

Mahanoy City (PA) Fire Company Announces Winners After Apparatus Parade

Amy Marchiano
Republican & Herald, Pottsville, Pa.
(TNS)

MAHANOY CITY — Saturday’s parade and Mack party celebrating the 100th anniversary of the West End Fire & Rescue of Mahanoy City featured 119 apparatus. The winners were announced and are below.

“The day went better than we ever imagined,” said Dan Markiewicz, borough fire chief.

Saturday’s events were the culmination of a weeklong celebration that began with a memorial service at St. Teresa of Calcutta Catholic Church, and ran throughout the week.

The company, which is the youngest of the five in the borough, formed after a fire in the west end of the city and was officially chartered on June 29, 1925.

Winners

Engine 2015-2025

First place: Liberty Schuylkill Haven 63-14

Second place: MaryD 27-10

Engine 2000-2014

First place: Plainfield Twp 3611

Second place: Good Will Pottsville 68-14

Engine Pre-2000

First place: Citizens Palo Alto 57-12

Second place: Tremont 67-10

Engine/Rescue:

First place: Ryan Twp. 26-10

Second place: Good Will Cressona 41-10

Heavy Rescue:

First place: Kulpmont Squad 221

Second place: Tremont 67-50

SEE PARADE PHOTOS: West End Fire & Rescue 100th anniversary firetruck parade in Mahanoy City

Light Rescue:

First place: Lehigh & Lausanne 1955

Second place: Tamaqua Rescue Squad R6550

Tanker:

First place: Plainfield Twp. 3632

Second place: Liberty Schuylkill Haven 63-64

Tanker/Pumper:

First place: Rural Security Pumper Tanker 43

Second place: Diligence Summit Hill 1431

Aerial Quint:

First place: Nesquehoning 1321

Second place: Rainbow Schuylkill Haven 63-21

Straight aerial:

First place: Freeland Ladder 57

Second place: Schuylkill Hose Schuylkill Haven 63-22

Brush Truck:

First place: Summit Station 34-47

Second place: Nuremberg-Weston 1911

Specialty Apparatus:

First place: Minersville Fire &Rescue 52-62

Second place: Sheppton-Oneida 9-70

EMS Unit:

First place: Ryan Twp Ambulance 976

Off Road/UTV:

First place: Birdsboro Union FC UTV 7

MACK FD Owned 1975 & Newer: Lehigh & Lausanne Twp. 1911

MACK Private Owned 1975 & Newer: Tyler BoyerMACK Private Owned 1974 & Older: Schuylkill Historical FireAntique Private Owned 1975 & Newer: Kevin GeigerAntique Private Owned 1974 & Older: Schuylkill Historical FireFire Co. Antique: Community New RinggoldOldest Apparatus (FD or Private): Community New RinggoldTravelers’ Award: Plainfield Twp. (80 miles)

Judges’ Awards:

Fleetwood Traffic 45Allen Twp 4511Shenandoah EMS Ambulance 6404Community New Ringgold 55-15

Non-Red Apparatus: Cumbola 2-16E-ONE

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