Charlie Erickson joined the Brewster Fire Department in 1957 and is now 90 years young. Over the years, he has been involved in a number of challenging, harrowing fires.

On April 18, 1975 Charley responded to a fire at the Brewster Standard Building at 29 Main Street (near Bob's Diner) which published a weekly, local newspaper. The fire was later determined to be arson set by two youngsters. At the top floor of the Brewster Standard Building was Martin's Antiques and Furniture. The Brewster Village water system then was inadequate for the fire. This necessitated the stretching of a 3 " supply line down to the river by what was then called Electrazone Field (now named Veteran's Field). This was still inadequate and so a second 3" supply line was laid from the river to the fire. Charley was on a ground ladder with a 1 1/2" hose putting water into a window on the second floor. The fire started rolling over him and he had to back down the ladder. As he was backing away, a wall collapsed. He and the rest of the fire crew dropped the hose and barely escaped the falling wall. The hose and nozzle were covered by falling debris. The falling debris barely missed the Snorkel which had been positioned outside the collapse zone.

Years earlier, on October 24,1962, a deadly fire broke out at the rear of 48 Main Street in Brewster. Charley was one of the respondents and grabbed a rubber turnout coat. Since there was no fire boots left, he just wore his own work boots. There were no Scott Packs in this time or Snorkel. Nineteen-year-old Alice McLaughlin and her mother exited the third floor via a ladder from the fire. The ladder was a fifty foot Bangor Ladder that was raised using Tormentor (aptly named) Poles. The mother went back in to rescue her husband but died in the building next to her husband. Charley was on a ladder and underneath him in the building was the deceased father. Jim Shepard was the Chief at the time. Then Second Assistant Chief (and future chief) Chuck Doyle ordered Charley off the ladder. Later Charley and then Assistant Chief Doyle placed the lady who was burned to death and in horrendous condition into a body bag. Because of the condition of the deceased wife, this particular fire was a gruesome challenge for Charley and to all the responders. (See photos #3,4,5, 6, &12)

A challenging fire that Charley was at, involved a barn which burned down and the adjacent house was also caught on fire. Charley took a 1 1/2" line up towards the top of the attic. Before he got to the top, the roof caved in as he was going up the stairs. The crash pinned the top of his helmet to the collapsing attic floor. Charley left the helmet and exited of the collapsing building.

Another fire that was challenging involved a fire On Marvin Mountain. Every fall, we frequently had five or so brush fires on Marvin Mountain (behind the Brewster Train Station). Charley, Pop Rowe, and Danny Rowe were surrounded by fire. Using Indian tanks, which had been partially emptied, a path was made to escape the flames.

On December 4,1965, a four-engine passenger plane crashed in North Salem. (See photo #7) Charley was one of the responders and was the last person to leave the burning plane alive after helping to evacuate the passengers. The pilot went back in to check to see if there was anybody left in the plane despite Charley's warning. Unfortunately, the pilot died in the plane's resulting inferno from the aviation gas.
(You can Check 2021 archives on this website for more details entitled: "Two Passenger Planes Collide Over Carmel")

On February 5, 1969, Charley was one of the firefighters who responded to the Trinity-Pawling school fire. After setting up the Snorkel and spraying the fire, a report of two trapped firefighters was received. This necessitated the breakdown of the Snorkel so that it could be positioned for a rescue. One of Pawling's Fire Department's hose lines was in the way and the Pawling Fire Department could not be contacted. Charley took a mallet to the connector and was able to disconnect the hose. This allowed the Snorkel to back up (It also made Charley very cold, and wet). One of the two firefighters was saved by the Snorkel. Unfortunately, the other firefighter died in the building. (For more details on this incident, check the archives on this website from 2021 entitled: "Firefighter Rescued")

Sources

Historical articles gathered by deceased BFD Historian Ed Schneider
Interviews with Charley Erickson on Sept12,2024.
Interviews with former Chief Thomas Hughes
The author has been a Brewster Firefighter since 1976.

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