FOLLOWING UP ON THE STORY THE OTHER DAY about the Las Vegas firefighters coming under gunfire when they arrived at a house fire (see the Firegeezer posting HERE), longtime reader Jim J. sent along this photo of how the Boston FD once prepared itself for attack.

It was taken back during World War II when many big city FD’s took defensive measures to protect their citizens and themselves from the possibility of aerial attacks.  They mounted an anti-aircraft machine gun right in the hose bed of this pumper:

Jim found this pic in one of Firegeezer’s favorite fire webpages, THE FIRE TRUCKS AT WAR website.  Take some time over this holiday weekend to CLICK HERE and wander around this extensive photo collection of unique and military fire apparatus from around the world.

The Tri-State Antique Fire Engine Association will be holding its annual muster at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on Saturday August 15.

The Tri-State association is a SPAAMFAA chapter and represents parts of Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio.  Along with the drafting contest, there will be trophys for many other categories connected with the truck show and even a Dalmation show (with ribbons).

The public is welcome and the only entry fee is for fire trucks if you bring one.

Read more about the muster at Tri-State’s WEBSITE HERE.

ALF ANTIQUE SPECIALISTS IN PARTICULAR…

The Enid (Oklahoma) Fire Department needs your help and they’ve asked us to pass along this request:

We are looking for rear brake shoes for our 1951 Ford F-7 American LaFrance Fire Engine.  These brakes shoes have the adjustors built into the brake shoes.  We really only need parts for the adjustor or an adjustor part kit but would be willing to buy the entire brake shoes if available.  The brake pads are 15 X 5.   If you have either the adjustor kit or the brake shoes please contact Philip Clover at 580-234-0541.  You can also respond by e-mail to dhays@enid.org.

FIRE ENGINE GEEZERS STILL HAVE THE ABILITY TO FIGHT FIRE, TOO.  Matt Grant, 23, of Denver, Pennsylvania, owns a 1972, fully-restored Mack 1,000 gpm pumper with a 750 gal. tank.  Usually he keeps it garaged in a barn in a neighboring township, but Friday night he brought it to his Lancaster County home so that he could leave straight away Saturday morning for a muster in Harrisburg.

During the night he heard his fire company tone out an alarm for an address on his block.  Sure enough, right across the street was a neighbor’s house with fire showing.  We’ll let Lancaster Online tell what happened next, in Matt’s own words:

“I got the call and heard that the address was across the street,” Grant said. “I walked out the back door and saw the flames blowing out at the neighbor’s house.”

Grant knew he would not be able to do much for the Worlines’ home. But he saw the Lynams’ home was in danger.  “I wanted to save what was savable,” he said.

He maneuvered the truck between the two houses and told the Lynams to close their windows before he began spraying down their home.

37 years old and still saving houses.  Matt Grant took this photo
Saturday morning at the fireground.

Denver Fire Company arrived minutes later.  “I did a double take,” Assistant Chief Harold Martzall said. He said he knew Grant lived in the neighborhood of the fire, but he didn’t expect the antique truck to be on the scene.

While the fire companies focused on the raging flames at the Worlines’ home, Grant kept watch over the Lynams’ house. Once the fire was controlled, he was able to shut down.  His truck had done its job.

“Harold told me if I wouldn’t have done that, it would have most likely caught fire,” Grant said of the Lynams’ house.

Matt got picked up and cleaned up in time to head out to the Pennsylvania Pump Primers 34th annual Antique Fire Apparatus Show and Muster where he won first place for the Fastest Draft Award – 1,000 gpm Pump and Larger.

“That Mack may not win awards for appearance… but it sure can work,” Matt says.  “Immediately after the fire, I drove it to Harrisburg for Pump Primers and it won the 1000 gpm+ fast draft competition with a from-the-cab-to-flowing-water time of 17.5 seconds.”

He says that he’s about to double his fleet with a purchase of a 1948 Hahn.

Read the full STORY HERE.
See some more of Matt’s fireground photos from Saturday morning’s fire at the LancasterFire InfoBoard HERE.

Hat tip to George C.

RECENTLY WE RECEIVED THIS INQUIRY from the Safety Department at the Norristown State Hospital in Pennsyvania:

I was looking around for possible pictures and information on our antique fire hose reel. I could not find any manufacture tag or any other identifying marks. We are tying to locate some possible information on this type of equipment.

 We rescued this piece from an old barn where it had been set a long time ago. We believe that there were several of these on the grounds for the old fire brigade. Two of which have been destroyed unfortunately.

 We have this one on display in our lobby and are trying to find information on it so we can locate the proper equipment that this reel was originally outfitted with for a proper display.

 Any information or leads for information will be greatly appreciated.

If you can offer any help for them, call Robert A. Wood at 610-313-1142

THE MINOA, NEW YORK, VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT will be proudly driving a fresh entry in the town’s annual Field Days parade at 6:00 this evening.

With the assistance of the Jerome Fire Equipment Co. and a generous cash contribution from the family of present and former members, they have been working for the past six months restoring their 1953 Mack engine.

Pictured at left is David Van Marter, former Minoa fire chief. Right front is Tom Schepp, whose family is helping fund the restoration. At far right in the back is Schepp’s son, Erich Schepp, a Minoa Firefighter. Jerome Fire Equipment mechanic Carl Vankesteren is opening the hood.
(Post-Standard / Gary Walts photo)

“It looks just beautiful,” said Erich A. Schepp, a Minoa firefighter whose grandfather, Russell Schepp, drove the engine the entire time it was in service. “It hasn’t looked that good in years. There’s a lot of excitement brewing over it.”

The engine, which has been out of service for almost 10 years now, will continue to be used for ceremonial purposes in parades and funerals, Schepp said. It was the department’s first green fire engine; today all its engines are green.

Russell Schepp, a 65-year member of the Minoa Fire Department, died in 2003. He was on the committee that purchased the engine, Erich Schepp said.

It was the Schepp family business that contributed financially to make the project work.  David Van Marter, a Minoa firefighter who’s overseen the restoration project, said the department’s membership wanted to restore the engine. “It’s nostalgia for us,” he said. “It’s nice to have an older fire engine to remind us of our younger days.”

The Syracuse Post-Standard has the full STORY.
Minoa Fire Department WEBSITE.

FWNetz, THE LEADING FIRE/RESCUE BLOG IN GERMANY, has just posted a video that is entertaining.  It shows a procession (or rally, certainly not a parade as we know it) of a lot of vintage fire trucks from there.  Firegeezer was impressed with the high number of aerial apparatus that are being restored by the buffs.

Don’t worry about the language barrier, just CLICK HERE and view the rest of the photos and watch the video.

WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH A 30-year-old ambulance?  Elkhart, Iowa, Fire Chief Chip Mathis thinks that someone might want to “put it on a corner and sell tacos out of it.”

The tiny, rural volunteer fire and rescue company has just replaced its 1979 Ford ambulance that has less than 64,000 miles on it.  Now they are looking for a buyer.  Failing to locate one after sending notices out to the Iowa fire and rescue associations, they are now publicly offering it up for bid. 

At the very least, they are hoping to collect $1,000 for it.  Realistically, they know that it won’t bring in as much as their annual lamb and pig roast fundraiser that they hold, but they are hopeful.

Read the full story in the Des Moines Register HERE.

Bids on the Elkhart Fire Department ambulance must be received by 9:30 a.m. Feb. 28. The City Council will review bids at a March 2 meeting.
Send bids to: Van sale, P.O. Box 20, Elkhart, IA 50073.
For more information, contact Fire Chief Chip Mathis at efd3500@iowatelecom.net.

PARAMEDICS IN LAMBTON, ONTARIO, HAVE TAKEN ON a noble project for their community.  Ontario’s last remaining horse-drawn ambulance is housed in the Lambton Heritage Museum in the Great Bend area.  The museum acquired the ambulance about 20 years ago, but never had the funds or ability to finish restoration of it.

The Sarnia Observer tells us:

Lambton’s paramedics have taken on the task of raising funds to help protect what remains of the original structure.

With a fundraising goal of $3,000 to $6,000, the paramedics would like to see the ambulance fully restored. Work would include structural stabilization, cosmetic repairs, the rebuilding of one side, the installation of brass coach lamps and the addition of a fiberglass horse.

To date, they have raised a total of $1,600 from a variety of personal donations and special events.   Corporate donations have also been made by Allied Medical, Canadian Emergency News and Crestline Ambulance.

“We are hopeful that we are able to raise a full $6,000 by the end of the year so that we can restore this ambulance to its former glory,” said Tom Moore, operations supervisor with the County of Lambton Emergency Medical Services Department and the paramedic who heads the fundraising campaign.

The ambulance was built in 1908 by the Petrolia Wagon Works Co. and was in use up until the first motorized ambulance was put in service.

The ambulance was originally commissioned by the Town of Petrolia and was used to bring the sick and injured to the hospital.  It was kept with the fire apparatus at Victoria Hall.  The men working in the oil industry surrounding Petrolia were particularly vulnerable to injury in such a dangerous occupation. The ambulance was needed to go out into the oil fields around town to retrieve injured workers and transport them in relative comfort.

If you wish to contribute to the restoration fund, send your donation to:

Lambton Heritage Museum
10035 Museum Road, R.R. #2
Grand Bend, ON Canada N0M 1T0

Indicate that it is to be directed to the “Horse Drawn Ambulance Restoration Fund”

Firegeezer says:  $6,000 doesn’t sound like a whole lot, does it?  Let’s try and put them over the top.  I’m going to send them $10 tomorrow.  Anybody want to match me?

Lambton EMS WEBSITE.

  1952  Maxim

Firegeezer reader Mitch Baumann has the perfect stocking-stuffer for you last-minute shoppers.  This 1952 Maxim has a 750 gpm Hale pump and only about 22,000 miles on it.

Mitch tells us that it “runs, drives and pumps great.”  The only flaw that he can detect is a little bit of rust along the bottoms of the doors.  All of the equipment that you see in the pictures is included with the sale.

The Decatur, Indiana, Fire Department bought it new and took it out of service just last year.

Mitch is asking $3,900 for it and you can pick it up at Zip Code 46733.  If you want to know more, write to him at:  baumann*at*usppp.com
Tell him the Geeze sent you.

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BRIAN DUDDY, FIRE PHOTOGRAPHER and Firegeezer reader, has just posted a batch of pics from the Catskills Muster held in June and he’d like to share them with you HERE.

THE FIRST ANNUAL ALL-AMERICAN FIRE MUSTER was held in North Charleston, South Carolina, on August 23 at the American La France museum.  Curator Grant Mishoe tells us that it was a great success, showing everybody a good time and even leading to contracting for another event next year.

In the competitve events, six local fire departments sent teams to try for the prizes for both hand pumps and bucket brigade contests.  And the locals came through proudly, shattering the established record for distance and first water.

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The North Charleston team working the brakes
on their way to 2nd place.

Teams were representing Charleston, North Charleston, St. Johns, Columbia, St. Andrews and the Charleston Air Force Base.

For distance on the hand pump, first place went to the Air Force Base team for sending the nozzle stream 171 ft.  North Charleston came in second with 168 ft. and third place for 160 ft. went to St. Andrews.  The record which had stood for several years until now was 164 ft.

The record for Bucket Brigade delivery was teased but not met.  The best time for moving 50 gallons over 20 ft. using five 2-gallon buckets is 26 seconds.

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North Charleston came close with 28 seconds, though.  The Air Base was right behind at 29 seconds and Charleston was a close third with 31 seconds.

As soon as next year’s date is fixed, we’ll be posting it so that you folks in the Southerland can make plans to catch it.

THE VILLAGE OF PELHAM, NEW YORK IS SELLING A HISTORIC FIRE ENGINE.  They are putting up for sale to the highest bidder their 1925 American LaFrance pumper.

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Eagle Engine #6

This lovely antique is Model and Registry #5037.  The Village of Pelham is the original and only owner of the fire engine and they are offering it to the highest bidder on a sale that ends at 11 am on Wednesday, September 17.

The key specs according to the legal sale notice:

*       Triple Combination Standard Type 12
*       6 cylinder gasoline engine – 120 HP
*       Transmission – selective sliding gear type – 3 speed
*       Final Drive – chain driven
*       1000 GPM  Rotary Gear Pump
*       Hand operated Siren
*       1200-ft. capacity hose bed

Vehicle is currently in decent running condition after a tune-up.

Minimum acceptable bid is $25,000.

Bids that are not bona-fide, e.g. cannot be paid within fourteen [14] days of award, will be considered null and void and award will be made to the next lowest bidder. If no bid is made at the minimum, the truck will not be sold. Payment upon award is required by cash, certified check, bank check or money order only. Personal checks and credit cards are not acceptable.

For more information or to place a bid, contact:
Richard Slingerland, Village Administrator
Village Hall
195 Sparks Ave.
Pelham, NY  10803

914-738-2015
e-mail:  richard.slingerland@pelhamgov.com

This is a rare opportunity to pick up a treasure.  And besides, is there any better place to buy a fire engine other than Sparks Ave.?

 UPDATE:  This story has been updated HERE.

BREAKING NEWS:  From Odgensburg, New York, Channel 10 is reporting that two people including a New York State Trooper were electrocuted Sunday night in a freak accident involving an antique firetruck.

The antique apparatus had pulled over to the side of the road at the entrance to the Prescott Bridge because of a flat tire.  As the driver started to change the tire, a trooper assigned to the Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Section of the State Police stopped and began helping him.

As they were working on the tire change, a ladder on the truck somehow swung around and contacted high-voltage wires, killing both men instantly.  No other information has been released yet.

A SPAAMFAA-SANCTIONED ANTIQUE FIRE ENGINE SHOW is being held this weekend in Syracuse, New York.

The show’s organizers were able to get some favorable tv coverage when the video crew from WSYR Ch. 9 showed up.

THE NORTH CHARLESTON & AMERICAN LaFRANCE FIRE MUSEUM WILL BE HOSTING a special “Fireman’s Muster” on August 23.

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In cooperation with Handtub Junction and the American Class “C” Muster Association, they will be presenting a full day of hand tub demonstrations, competitions and a spectator-involved bucket brigade.  This will be the first time that the Class C Muster Assoc. has held a competition in the South.

It sounds like a great day of fun and will be a rare treat to see these beautiful hand pumpers that date back 150 to 200 years.

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Neptune #8  (Handtub Junction photo) 

If you’ll be looking for a great day trip while you’re in Myrtle Beach on vacation or at home in the Carolinas, so make sure you catch this one.  For more information, go to the webpage announcement HERE.

THE SANTA CLARA COUNTY CITY OF MILPITAS in California has been looking for a place to display their antique fire engine.

The 1932 converted farm truck was their first fire engine and for some reason can no longer be housed in Fire Station #1 downtown.  The truck, nicknamed Leapin’ Lena because of the way it jumped when the first gear was engaged, is now owned by the Milpitas Historical Society.

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Milpitas Post photo

This week the historical group was able to work out an agreement with the City Council to place the truck in the library’s midtown parking garage.  A display area will be built including a security system to foil vandalism when the new garage is completed.

The city will provide $25,000 for the display construction and the historical society will provide the $14,000 security system as well as carrying liability insurance of at least $100,000.  It is expected that this location will be used for at least 10 years.

The Milpitas Post has the full STORY.

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