"We've had inputs from the firefighters in the field: captains, drivers, and firefighters that work on the units," Maize said.

By the end of the year, the new fire apparatus will be delivered to every Kansas City fire station. The fire department will have all 48 fire apparatus in service. The department is also remounting 41 ambulances in-house.

"The patient compartment we can get about 10 years out of that, so we can actually re-mount it about three times. The cabin chassis, they're high mileage units so we get about three, three and a half years out of those," says Maize.

Maize says most pumper trucks can operate around 7 1/2 years before needing replacement. The current pumpers were bought in 2005. The pumpers come with an important new feature.

"The height of the hose bed in the back, same with the hand lines...we call them cross lays, the ones that go right behind the cab on either side of the truck. Those are things they took in to consideration, to help reduce injury, and also speed and efficiency, being able to deploy hose," says Maize.

The cost to replace the fleet, $34 million. Another $2.8 million is being spent on the ambulances.

Mary confirmed the identity of the man behind the wheel--wearing a hat as he usually did--when she put on her "better glasses."

"He had an accident as a young boy and his right hand was not right, so I could see that also to confirm," said Haltom. "Again, with good glasses," she joked.

Hodges bought the fire engine from the San Marino Fire Department in 1957. The department sold the engine in an effort to raise funds to purchase new equipment. Old No. 1 visited birthday parties, weddings and family celebrations for 18 years. Mary and her dad also cruised the engine around town.

"We had such good memories with Old No. 1--driving through town and to what was the Huntington Hotel, now the Langham," Haltom recalls.