"THE SAGA OF MOUNT PELEE"

November 22, 1906
Engine 3 was assigned the first self-propelled fire apparatus in NFD history. It was a double-extra, first-class Amoskeag steamer and was propelled by steam. It weighed 13 tons and was nicknamed "Mount Pelee," after the volcano of the same name, because of the amount of smoke and sparks that emanated from its stack. It has been said that the $13,000 rig caused more damage than it ever prevented. Because of its tremendous weight, it caused damage to streets and cracked manhole covers as it rolled over them. The sparks pouring from its stack caused more fires than it ever extinguished. Many storeowners lost awnings to "Mount Pelee" and some roofs were damaged by the fiery brands being thrown into the air. The driver was responsible only for steering the mammoth machine, while the engineer at the rear controlled its speed and braking.

January 1, 1907
Engine 3 was ordered to respond only to private boxes in their first due district and on multiple alarms because of the damage that "Mount Pelee" was causing on each run. Because of its tremendous weight, it was damaging streets and cracking manhole covers, and its stack constantly belching embers caused more fires than it ever put out.

September 4, 1909
"Mount Pelee" was taken out of service and Engine 3 reverted back to normal horse-drawn apparatus.

February 11, 1911
"Mount Pelee" was converted to a normal horse-drawn steamer and assigned to Engine 5.

December 4, 1911
The converted "Mount Pelee" steamer was removed from Engine 5 and placed in reserve.

November 12, 1915
Engine 3 became motorized. And what were they motorized with? Old "Mount Pelee!" But the rig had undergone a few changes. First, the heavy self-propelling machinery was removed and the boiler and piping were placed on a normal steamer chassis. Then a Christie front-drive tractor, which cost $6,800, was attached to the unit and it was placed back on the front lines.

April 15, 1921
The rebuilt and motorized "Mount Pelee" was removed from Engine 3 and reassigned to Engine 19. Engine 3 was assigned another motorized unit.

July 8, 1927
Old "Mount Pelee" was removed from Engine 19 to be scrapped. Instead, it was sold and ended up in South America as part of an irrigation project.