Modern Fire Trucks

The progression of American fire apparatus since the romantic horse-drawn era has truly been amazing. The elementary steam engines and wagons of yesteryear have evolved into a multitude of technologically advanced modern rigs to mitigate the hazards of the 21st Century as efficiently and safely as possible. The roles of today's fire services have expanded to include Emergency Medical Services, Hazardous Materials, Urban Search & Rescue, and Wildland. These modern disciplines required a new breed of specialty apparatus and even the classic fire truck has transformed into multi-purpose rescue-pumpers, pumper-tankers, and an array of aerial trucks. An industry long dominated by legendary names is led by a new generation that includes Pierce, KME, E-One, Rosenbauer, Ferrara, and many others. This volume highlights fire trucks from 1980 to present, the culmination of the 20th Century into a new Millennium.

American motor fire apparatus design reached its high-water mark in the 1950s. Every one of the nation's major fire apparatus manufacturers boasted uniquely individual custom fire truck designs. Unlike the look-alike cookie-cutter shoeboxes of today, back then a fire fighter could instantly identify these makes a block away. From conventional Fords to the custom rigs of fire apparatus manufacturers, all the most popular, unique, and industry-changing designs and innovations are featured in this long-overdue tribute to the fire trucks of the Fabulous Fifties!

Updated history and encyclopedia of fire engines from all over the world, with an A-Z of fire engine manufacturers.

Follows the steps involved in building a pumper fire engine, from choosing the cab and chassis through adding special features and painting to testing and delivery.

High-speed dashes to roaring flames fill this spectacular collection of today's modern firefighting vehicles! 80 color photographs of rigs used to fight fires, to supply rescue assistance, and to battle blazes in the cold of winter.

From earliest days the call of Fire! has attracted fire fighters and onlookers alike. The drama, the danger, the fascination with fire fighting's extraordinary machines and equipment draws the interest of people everywhere. This book provides an in-depth look at those exotic machines, their development and their use to the present day.The author takes us through the evolution of fire-fighting apparatus in Canada from the introduction of hand-pumped fire engines in the mid-1700s, through the era of horse-drawn and steam-driven fire engines to the multi-purpose, emergency-response vehicles of today. His anecdotal style belies the massive amount of research required to prepare such a chronicle. Baird also incorporates a history of the manufacturing of fire apparatus and of the social outgrowths of fire fighting. The text is accompanied by many fascinating photographs of apparatus both ancient and modern, some rarely seen before.