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Chris Mc Loone |
We've been having some interesting truck discussions in and around the firehouse recently. The recent Independence Day holiday brought fire company members out for extra work nights to prepare the apparatus for the four parades we were scheduled to attend.
One of these parades is a "judging" parade for us. Judges are in different locations on the parade route, and at the end of the parade route we park the apparatus so judges can scrutinize the rigs a little more closely. The work paid off as we brought home first-place trophies for our engine and rescue this year.
At one work night as the Fourth of July got closer, we were discussing our old trucks. One in particular came up because of recent pictures circulated around social media. Our 1989 Spartan/Saulsbury, which we sold in 2002, had been the subject of several Facebook conversations in recent months because photos surfaced of its "for sale" flyer. It was fun to look at the truck and reminisce. It and our current rescue, a 2002 Spartan/Saulsbury, have reflected the trends in how fire department needs have changed. The 1989 was a walk-through rescue. And, I will attest, it was a dream to drive. When I first joined the fire company, we were often special called with that truck to fires. Back then, we filled the truck and, because it was a walk-through, we poured out of the crew cab and rear from three different openings when we arrived on scene. Back then, anyone who had a scanner would be listening and filter into the firehouse because we "just knew" we'd be going, so it was easy to fill the truck. Today, dispatch procedures are more sophisticated, and we are on the initial dispatch with our rescue for fires. But, staffing levels have changed as well as the equipment we carry. So, the 2002 rescue is a walk-in.
Most recently, more photos made their way around Facebook of the 1989 rig in pieces. The truck is being stripped. It's not clear whether the company we sold it to sold it to someone to strip it or if the fire company is stripping it itself and selling the parts. Either way, it's tragic to see. That truck served us well during its time with Weldon Fire Company.
One conversation about old trucks during a different work night revolved around another local fire company discovering its 1937 Buffalo fire apparatus on eBay and the company's efforts to secure a piece of its history. As I write this, a special meeting is planned to discuss how much money the company is willing to spend to acquire the antique. I've seen the pictures, and the truck looks good. What's more, its owner states that it runs and drives.
It was an interesting juxtaposition to me. On one side is a 78-year-old apparatus that still runs and drives and is sought after. On the other side is a truck just 26 years old unfortunately being used for parts at this point. On one side is a truck destined for parades again as a slice of a fire company's history. On the other is the former pride and joy of a fire company whose parade days are over.
I look around at the fire apparatus being replaced today and wonder: Are the days of holding onto trucks as part of a fire company's history gone? It's not like today's trucks can be stored in someone's garage if there's no room at the fire company-they're pretty big. It also makes me wonder what's coming.
As we discussed the Buffalo rig, the conversation transitioned into how much electronics are on today's vehicles and how "back