On What Happens to Old Fire Engines...

Sadly, most old fire engines eventually disappear after decades of dedicated front line service. Some become 'hand-me-down' donations, or are sold to fire departments that can't afford new ones. Some are sold outside of the fire service, such as to ranchers, farmers, or contractors who want a used vehicle with a water pump and tank. Sometimes you can see old fire engines sitting out in ranch fields after their useful life has passed. The lucky ones are sometimes sold to collectors, who often restore them. Or they end up in museums, or are preserved by their original fire department as historical memorabilia. 

We are starting a new section this week titled Historical Fire Apparatus. It will feature Marin County fire apparatus that has been preserved and/or restored to their former glory. This week we have posted the story of an original San Rafael FD pumper, a 1922 Stutz, restored to 'mint condition' by retired San Rafael Fire Chief Robert Marcucci and his brother Marty. This engine served San Rafael with pride from 1922 into the 1950's, and was eventually sold to a collector in the south Bay Area. The engine was a proud 'workhorse', responding to calls such as the 1950 Mar Vista Motors fire, where two SRFD firemen were killed 65 years ago this week. Read how it was rescued from sitting out in the weather, in a state of general decay.

Check it out under More>Historical Fire Apparatus>1922 Stutz.