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Time to start the big fight - 1980 FMC/International (usually third to go) and 1988 FMC International, both running John Bean High Pressure Fog and not going anywhere any time soon.
They still have tailboards, too.
2nd due is a 79 ALF
Ironically as it sounds~ I do believe, and I have seen it, that Memphis Tenn has a Water Tower, STILL IN SERVICE. It is located at the Fire Museum, complete with Batteries to start the vehicle.
According to records I have seen, the rig was constructed in 1891 as a Horse drawn, and converted and refurbished in 1957, by PIRSCH. It carries the designation of T-31. I am quite sure it is not a Front line piece, BUT.... if needed it can be utilized by the City of Memphis as needed. It does have a Garage Door in front of the cab, at the Museum, and the curator told us, it does get checked over on a regular basis, for the age of the rig. It can be put onto the Street easily.
http://www.firstduephotos.com/keyword/pirsch/86415026_KvFbmJC#!i=86415026&k=KvFbmJC
I agree with the firefighter safety issue with the older trucks, BUT, I am with Craig on this one. There are a TON of departments that can not afford new rigs whenever they feel like it. I come from a village of 482 people and we operate a tanker (tender) that's a 1974. Why? Not because we want to! And yes, we do have fund raisers and other functions to raise money, but a majority of it goes to things like maintenance, insurance, fuel, etc. That tanker I mentioned, we built it ourselves from an old grain truck chassis, because it was that or nothing. We apply for grants and other funding assistance but when your call volume is around 25 a year, with 20 of them EMS calls, it's hard to justify and have any luck with the being awarded $250,000+ that the apparatus cost today. And I agree with Chris to an extent, we are doing "whatever it takes" to provide fire protection, but there is a realistic limit to what can be accomplished. We had to fund-raise and save for 14 years to purchase a USED 2007 Rescue for $65,000. And now we start at $0.00 again. So, if your department has the funds and opportunity to have new(er) apparatus, consider yourselves blessed. That's just the way it is in RURAL America.
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