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By Ron Heal

The Young Fire Equipment Corporation was in business from 1944 until 1991. The Buffalo, New York, area regional fire apparatus manufacturer built a full line of apparatus for fire departments primarily in the east. Today fire apparatus enthusiasts best recall the “Crusader” line of apparatus that was introduced by Young in 1967.The Crusader line was very distinctive with a low-profile full width cab and tear-drop wrap around windshield. Crusader units were built at Young’s Lancaster, New York, facility until 1973.

In 1969, the Kempsville (VA) Volunteer Fire Department took delivery of a 1,000-gpm Young Crusader pumper. As distinctive as the pumper was with the low-profile cab and emergency lights on the cab roof mounted on tunnels, the rig was even more distinctive in a coat of white paint.

In early 2015, Fire Apparatus and Emergency Equipment did an electronic feature on this rig and the new owner, Virginia Beach (VA) Fire Department Captain Wayne Black. Black is a 37½-year year member of the of the department. He began his fire service career with the Kempsville (VA) Volunteer Department. He recalls the 1969 Young Crusader as the first piece of fire apparatus that he was assigned to. The volunteer group was absorbed by an expanding Virginia Beach (VA) Fire Department that today serves a population of some 450,000 from 19 fire stations with a complement of more than 500 fire personnel. The Young Crusader would remain in service as a front-line pumper and later as a spare apparatus until 1992. The rig was then obtained by the Cove Rural Fire District (RFD) in Cove City, Oregon.

The pumper made a trip across the country and would remain in service with the new department until 2011. The Cove RFD made two noticeable changes to the pumper. It increased the size of the water tank to 1,800 gallons and painted the rig yellow. Retired Cove RFD Chief Sonny Johnson wondered if there might be some collector value in the rig back in the original Virginia Beach home to the apparatus. A phone call to the Virginia Beach (VA) Fire Department somehow made its way to Black. Was he interested? That was a resounding “Yes!” A new chapter in the life of the 1969 Young Crusader pumper was about to begin. In 2014, a $500 donation to the Cove RFD and a substantial hauling fee to bring the rig back across country one more time brought the pumper back to Virginia. The Crusader was back home!

Restoration Begins
The restoration phase on the pumper would encompass the next three years. The pumper was stored in a garage behind Black’s house. Modifications to the garage gave him the space he needed for the restoration. The modified garage gave Black the opportunity to work on the rig whenever time would allow. While the rig was in good mechanical condition, there were several areas needing attention. Restoration would include replacing warning, clearance, and signal lights; some electrical wiring; and finding and installing a vintage siren. While the water tank size was not changed, for sure the pumper would have to be returned

Fayetteville (TN) Fire Department pumper. Spartan Metro Star cab and chassis; Cummins ISL9 450-hp engine; Waterous CSU 1,500-gpm pump.

Fayetteville (TN) Fire Department pumper. Spartan Metro Star cab and chassis; Cummins ISL9 450-hp engine; Waterous CSU 1,500-gpm pump.