CHARLES OWENS
Bluefield Daily Telegraph, W.Va.
(TNS)
BLUEFIELD — With help from the Bill Cole Automall, a vintage 1932 fire truck is back in use for the Bluefield Fire Department.
The Ford Model A fire truck made its first public appearance in more than five years Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, during Bluefield’s Fall Festival. The plan is to use the old No. 6 at upcoming city events, including the Bluefield Christmas Parade, according to Lt. Brandon McKinney with the Bluefield Fire Department.
“It used to be an icon of the city,” McKinney said of the antique fire truck. “It used to haul Santa Claus, and it has been at lemonade festivals.”
The old fire truck was still being used by the Bluefield Fire Department in service up until the mid 1970s. A 1975 photograph in the Bluefield Daily Telegraph — saved in a scrapbook at the fire station — showed the old fire engine No. 6 in service at a call.
A 1935 photograph shows the same truck responding to a fire in the city. It is believed the Bluefield Fire Department purchased the truck in 1932.
But it was eventually retired sometime in the 1970s, only to be refurbished again in the 1990s.
“It kind of gotten in really bad shape,” McKinney said. “I think back in the 90s the guys got together and did a complete restore on it.”
About five years ago, the old fire truck was parked at a city owned site after experiencing a number of problems. But in recent weeks Jessica Cole started asking about the status of the vintage truck, and whether or not it could appear at Bluefield’s Fall Festival, McKinney said.
“A few months ago Jessica and Jason Cole reached out to us,” McKinney said. “And they wanted to fix it back up and get it back in use in the city.”
McKinney said Jason Cole took the fire truck to the Bill Cole Automall last month, where the mechanics there made a series of repairs and upgrades to the vehicle.
“I definitely want to give props to Jason and Jessica Cole and the Bill Cole Automall,” McKinney said. “Jessica is really the one who got the push (going) and wanted to see it at the fall festival.”
McKinney said the Bill Cole Automall spent about three weeks working on the old fire truck. Some of the repairs made it to included a new starter, a new battery and fixing all of the lights.
“They even sent it to their detail shop and had everything polished on it,” McKinney said.
The old fire truck was a hit at Saturday’s fall festival. One woman even asked if she could take a photograph of her dog inside of the fire truck.
McKinney said the plan is to use the restored fire truck at upcoming city events, including the Bluefield Christmas Parade and possibly the upcoming Octoberfest celebration.
“It’s back up and going,” he said. “So it should make its way to the Christmas parade and wherever else it’s needed.”
Contact Charles Owens at cowens@bdtonline.com
© 2025 the Bluefield Daily Telegraph (Bluefield, W.Va.). Visit bdtonline.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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