About four years
ago, Mark Platt, a Lycoming air safety investigator in Van Nuys,
California, and his wife Pam purchased a 1967 Mack C95 Fire Engine
that had served in the Lawrence-Cedarhurst Fire Department of Long
Island, New York, until 1995.
 The
truck boasted reportedly the first diesel-powered fire apparatus
on Long Island. After having it trucked across the U.S., the Platts
began restoration in September 1997. By May 2000, the exacting process
was complete, with authentic New York City Fire Department colors
and lettering. The fire apparatus was restored to a fully functional,
beautiful condition, and began a new life as Engine Company 281
and for a year became a regular feature at fundraisers, charity
events, toy runs, and parades throughout the Los Angeles area.
However, the tragedy of 9-11 brought new significance to the restored
engine and its New York origin. Besides memorial services, it became
a part of events such as the Pasadena conclusion of the "Thank You
America Tour" begun by five FDNY firefighters on September 11 as
they left Ground Zero.*
Then, Engine Company 281 joined the 2002 Tournament of Roses Parade
FanFest, a two-day pre-parade event in Pasadena, to honor the fallen
heroes of New York City. "We were deeply honored to represent the
firefighters of FDNY . . . . [to promote] the dignity and recognition
these true heroes so deserve," stated Platt.
"I think the best part of the whole Rose Parade experience was when
we took the fire engine out on New Year's Eve and cruised up and
down Colorado Boulevard on the parade route. People had begun to
line up along the 5 1/2-mile route [that day] as early as 11:00
AM. It's an unbelievable amount of people. This year was great because
everyone had American flags and was very upbeat. When Engine Company
281 came down the street, the crowd went nuts. At one point, the
sheriff's department joined in to escort us along the route. We
enjoyed sharing our fire engine with the American public that day,
for sure."
The privately owned, not-for-profit Engine Company 281 continues
to appear in ongoing recognition of firefighters and to benefit
children's causes such as the Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation, the
Annual Firefighters "Spark of Love" Toy Run, Children's Hospital
of Los Angeles, and Camp Ronald McDonald House.
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CairnsHELMETS® top off the occasion
MSA was happy to donate four traditional-style
leather fire helmets for use in the Rose Parade event
"to maintain the 'East Coast' look and rich tradition
of FDNY," in Platt's words. "We sent them four of the
CairnsHELMETS® original-style leather helmets, named,
coincidentally, 'The New Yorker' (model N5A)," said John
Green, MSA's product manager of fire helmets.  "This
New Yorker is very likely the exact fire helmet model
worn by the New York firefighters who first rode that
truck. We added custom-made helmet fronts with the Engine
Company 281 name and insignia, as authentic and shiny
as the restored Engine Company 281 itself!"
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More
about Engine Company 281
The
Mack C95FD Triple Combination Pumper, serial #1595, was
built by Mack in June 1967 in Allentown, Pa., and UL-certified
shortly thereafter. It was used to fight many fires in
New York City as part of the mutual aid response agreements.
It was in service with the Lawrence-Cedarhurst Fire Department,
Long Island, New York, from September 28, 1967, until
retirement in 1995, with 38,000 original miles. The Mack
fire engine, particularly the C95 series was a favorite
of the FDNY.
Engine:
ENDTF-673 Turbo-Charged Maxidyne Diesel 672 CID, 227
HP @ 2100 RPM
Pump:
Waterous CMB-1000 2-stage centrifugal @ 1000 gal-per-minute
capacity
500-gallon
booster tank
Air
brakes & power steering
Mack
TR676 5-Speed manual transmission (pump in direct gear)
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