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.

During the 1960s and 1970s, the fire apparatus industry saw unprecedented revolution, innovation, and parity. The long admired conventional models gave way to the contemporary archetypes that are the genesis of today’s fire trucks. Just as disco and the lava lamp became all the societal rage, the fire service saw its own fads and trends. A new generation of aggressive fire apparatus manufacturers led by Pierce and Emergency-One began to overtake their forefathers and the pool of builders producing high quality apparatus in numbers became considerably more populated. This volume highlights the fire trucks of the Swinging Sixties and the Groovy Seventies!