Return to 1923 ALF Engine Gallery Page
In 1923, the City of Tucson purchased 2 pumpers, and one 75-foot aerial ladder truck from American LaFrance in Elmira, NY. The trucks were housed at one of three stations in the city of 29,000 residents and were manned by 29 firefighters total. The pumpers were triple combination, 6-cylinder, self-starting, rotary pumpers capable of pumping 750 gallons per minute. The cost for each pumper was $14,000. The trucks remained in front-line service until 1949, when they were placed in reserve storage.
In 2010, a pumper (serial #4189) was located in El Paso, TX, and purchased from a private owner for $3,500 by the Greater Tucson Fire Foundation. The pumper was trailered back to Tucson and restoration was started by a group of all volunteer retired firefighters and paramedics.
Restoration took approximately five years, from 2010 till May of 2015. At that time, the truck was put on permanent display in the lobby of Central Fire Station. The pumper is brought out annually for the Dillinger Days celebration at the Hotel Congress, and an occasional display at the University of Arizona book fair.
The restoration crew members listed alphabetically are: Jeff Corey, Chuck Damerow*, Larry Eaglen, Doug Edwards, Brian Fitzgerald, Ted Geare, John Roads, Lee Sebring*, Rick Singleton, Jay Smith, Chuck Thim, Don Uthe, Todd Vossler. *deceased, see crew memorial page.