Check this out!
Circa mid-1960s. This was the SDVFD’s first tanker, acquired in 1964.
It was a 1951 International Oil Tanker that they converted over for use as a tanker. It was purchased from the fuels division off of the Naval Air Station, Patuxent River, MD. When they first got it was “Navy Gray” in color, and stayed that way for a while until they could afford and arrange to have it re-painted. It carried about 1,600 gallons of water. During this time, all of the fire departments in St. Mary’s County had tankers that were converted old fuel tankers.
From talking with Robert Lynch, we believe this picture was probably taken around 1965-1966.

Standing next to Tanker 6 (L-R) is Robert “Puggy” Russell (deceased), a young-looking Robert Lynch, and Bobby Dean (deceased).

Photo courtesy of Pam Adams Laigle