A BLAST FROM THE PAST!!!

1976(?) FORD/HURST M.E.R.V. Unit

This was our first Rescue 1 (308). It was only in service for a couple of years. In addition to the Jaws of Life it had a Hale Single Stage Pump, 200 gallon water tank and 25 gallon Light Water tank.
The concept was great but the problem was that the brakes could not handle all of the weight so the mechanics were constantly replacing them.
The joke used to be that in order to drive this apparatus you had to be an expert on the streets in the city because you had to start applying the brakes 2 blocks before you had to turn.
We sent the truck back to Hurst but kept the Jaws.
This is one of the only pictures known to exist of this vehicle

Last modified on Sunday, April 16, 2006