Providence, RI Canteen & Rehab Units

Original Providence Canteen 1
A Brief History Of How We Started

In November of 1967 Roy Baker and several other fire buffs from the area responded to a fire in Providence R.I. located at the corners of Wayland Ave and Gano St, The fire involved a storefront and the firefighters were going to be on scene for a few hours. At that time refreshments for the firefighters were obtained from the old red bridge dinner by Baker and the other buffs from an organization to support firefighters who were dispatched to fires that would have the firefighters on scene for long periods of time. It was at that point in 1968 that the Special Signal Fire Association was born. A station wagon served as the mobile response vehicle in the beginning and hot coffee was picked up at the Dunkin Donuts that was located in downtown Providence.

Responses time tended to be slow due to the time needed by the fire department to notify the Special Signal. A member or members had to mobilize and then pick up or prepare the coffee and other beverages. In April of 1969 the Salvation Army came together the members of the S.S.F.A. In their endeavor to improve services to the emergency responders a mobile Canteen Truck was purchased. On average the Canteen Truck responded to 12 major fires per year and only responded to large fires in Providence.

Firefighting was just as dangerous in 1968 as it is now, however the equipment carried and worn by the firefighters today is much more sophisticated and places more a demand on the body. Just carrying the added weight of a Scott Air pack places a firefighters body in in fighting the fire of today. These services provided include the replenishment of lost body fluids and extends to the feeding of responders deployed for long-term events.

In 1992 Paul O'Rourke, a Providence police officer, began to oversee the Salvation Army Canteen Truck operations and changed the name over to Salvation Army Fire police Rehab Unit. O'Rourke recruited other police officers, firefighters and other people with other valuable skills to provided the staffing needed to provided for immediate response of the canteen to an event 24 hours per day seven days a week 365 days a year. As of 2006 we are doing over 550 runs a year and climbing. Salvation Army began to reorganize the method of operation of the Rehab Truck and began to coordinate closely with O'Rourke with resulted in more funding and immediate access to supplies when needed, especially in a major event. it became a standard operating procedure that any event that exceeded fore hours the Rehab Truck would prepare meals for the responders on scene. In addition the rehab unit has 60 members to staff 2 trucks a 2002 Grumman (Rehab 2) and 2006 Grumman (Rehab 1). Both trucks are located in Cranston R.I. at the Salvation Army Dispatch Center

AFFILIATIONS

Providence Fire Dept.

Providence Police Dept.

The Salvation Army

9-11-01

SITE DESIGNED AND MAINTAINED BY:
Stephen Clouter
Special Signal Fire Association of Rhode Island