Peter West and Mike Sanders

Virginia’s largest fire department has an interesting fire apparatus history.

Loaded with photographs of engines, ladder trucks, rescue squads, ambulances, and numerous support vehicles, Fairfax County, Virginia – 80 Years of Fire Apparatus History 1923-2003 is a pictorial history book of the apparatus purchased by both the Volunteer and County owned fire stations from the early 1920’s through 2003.

• Engines – or “Wagons” as they were once called. From department made trucks in the early years, to open cab, to today’s impressive four door engines

• Numerous manufacturers including Pirsch, Maxim, American LaFrance, Seagrave, Emergency One, Pierce, and others…a unique variety of photographs.

• Aerial Ladders – includes the early rearmounts and midships, to the County’s impressive tillers, to today’s ladders and aerial towers. See the apparatus history of the County’s truck companies.

• Squads – In the early years, squads were converted from donated equipment such as telephone trucks. Today’s heavy squads hold an incredible amount of equipment. See how the county began with the light squads, moved to medium size trucks, and see the impressive heavy squads of today.

• Ambulances - The early years included custom Cadillac and Pontiac ambulances. In the 1960’s and 1970’s, the Suburban became popular and the box style units arrived. Today, the “monster medic” is the ambulance of choice. See photographs of this transition of EMS service within Fairfax County.

• The Unusual – foam units, light and air trucks, four-wheel drive brush trucks, tankers, technical rescue, etc.

A department the size of Fairfax County requires many specialized apparatus. Fairfax County, Virginia – 80 Years of Fire Apparatus History 1923-2003 captures the many specialized apparatus past and present. A comprehensive apparatus history that you will want to add to your library.