Fire Attack's photostream  

At the Test Pit

Going through the annual pump test at the LAFD Shops in East Los Angeles.

This was the first LAFD apparatus I ever rode on. The year 1985 when I joined the Explorer program at Old Fire Station 66. This and it's sister rig had new car smell when I first laid eyes on them. Back then I was learning the equipment inventory to gain my ride-along status as a new scout.

In 1996 when 66's received their new apparatus, this and Shop number 60395 were handed down to Fire Station 63 in Venice Beach. At the time I was a six year Firefighter/Paramedic assigned to FS63. This apparatus took me to many incidents over the years, big and small allowing me to gain valuable experience in my development as a firefighter.

In 2004 we received another hand me down apparatus, a 1999 Pierce from Fire Station 64 in Watts. Shop# 60401 went into reserve status.

Today I was informed that it's the end of the line for this old horse. She's become old and outdated with a large list of reliability issues, almost 30 years old. Soon she will be taken into one of the maintenance stalls, and stripped of any reusable equipment. The proud Los Angeles City seal and LAFD markings will be peeled away. She will be stricken from the LAFD inventory and sent to an auctioneer who liquidates surplus city property to a fate unknown.

This rig meant a lot to me.

End of the line for the Alamitos Bike Trail