Modern Fire Trucks: An Illustrated History

The progression of American fire apparatus since the romantic horse-drawn era has truly been amazing. The elementary steam engines and wagons of yesteryear have evolved into a multitude of technologically advanced modern rigs to mitigate the hazards of the 21st Century as efficiently and safely as possible. The roles of today's fire services have expanded to include Emergency Medical Services, Hazardous Materials, Urban Search & Rescue, and Wildland. These modern disciplines required a new breed of specialty apparatus and even the classic fire truck has transformed into multi-purpose rescue-pumpers, pumper-tankers, and an array of aerial trucks. An industry long dominated by legendary names is led by a new generation that includes Pierce, KME, E-One, Rosenbauer, Ferrara, and many others. This volume highlights fire trucks from 1980 to present, the culmination of the 20th Century into a new Millennium.