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GI Rigs 
6-2-12A 2002 Kaiser GI-Rig In June of 2002, the Riverhead Fire Department took delivery of this new custom-built 5-ton Chivvas GI Rig to replace its old 2.5-ton GI Rig which has since been sold to the Cutchogue Fire Department. Riverheads newest "Stump-Jumper" is the latest in fighting forest fires. This truck is equipped with GPS, a 1000 gallon water tank, 5 task-force tips, extra-large crew cage and enough scene lighting to play a night game.
6-2-12B 1996 Kaiser GI-Rig 6-2-12B This 5-ton GI rig was built in 1996 (after the wildfires) because our old rigs took a beating and needed back-up. Inducted into service in the Summer of 1996 the truck came equipped with a 1000 gallon water tank and was recently fitted with a GPS to help guide us into and out of the woods.
6-2-12 1973 International Brush Truck One of the first "stump-jumpers" ever built, this historic truck is still in service today! In November of 1973 a new way of fighting area brush fires was introduced. Under then Chief William Conklin and Captain Walter Linnen, the Red Bird Hook & Ladder Company was assigned the Riverhead Fire Departments first "Brush Truck". It was called 6-2-10 back in it's early days, later to be changed to 6-2-12. The truck was built along with four others to be used by neighboring communities by Mr. Ziggy O'Kula. It is a gasoline fueled International 1700 series with a 550 gallon water tank and a "Hale" pump, supplying three separate lines totaling 220' of 1" hose with "Task-Force" tips. This truck also carries 150' of 1.5" hose with adaptors if needed. Other available equipment includes assorted hand tools such as axes and shovels, a basic toolbox, spanner wrenches, hydrant set and a "Stihl" chain saw which comes in very handy when the need arises.  This truck holds a significant history for Riverhead in the fire service. On February 3rd 1977 this truck was airlifted upstate to help out the City of Buffalo during a snow crisis. Six of Riverheads volunteer firemen went to Buffalo, in two shifts of three men each, and were welcomed by the local paid professionals at Ladder Company 12, located in the northwest and coincidentally the Polish section of the city (The truck is now stationed in Riverheads "Polish Town" Community). The tremendous snowstorm made it almost impossible to travel and our truck was used as a first response vehicle to structure fires and other emergencies. During the ten days stationed there they responded to 32 alarms, logging 153 miles racing through the ice covered city where snow banks were often almost the same height as the houses. Both groups of firefighters received the call to duty on structure fires and were congratulated by the battalion chief for their valiant efforts, they were considered to be heroes. The crew then drove the approximately 500 miles home to Riverhead. To this day they still say the entire experience was something they will never forget. The first crew consisted of then Assistant Chief Russell Fleischman, Red Bird Captain Joseph Kaelin and Bryant "Butch" Young. The second crew was Red Bird Lieutenant Dennis Hamill, Charlie Bloss and Marvin Warner. All this was performed under the reigning Chief at that time Antone "Tony" Bugdin. The truck received some alterations after it's return from Buffalo. The cage was expanded to the outermost sides of the truck. This gave the crew much more room to work and added protection. Prior to it's trip upstate the front end was beefed up by adding cross supports and steel mesh, because we had found that after practically every trip into the woods it needed new headlights. This apparatus is currently in the care of Riverheads Fire Police Patrol Company and is still today working well at the job it was designed to do. All above photos are courtesy of Ex-Captain Raymond Kwasna
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