In 1989 Thurston County Fire District #3 joined with the City of Lacey and bought a pair of fire engines from Appleton, Wisconsin based Pierce Fire Apparatus. These fire engines were built as heavy duty monsters featuring some of the first disc brakes on fire engines in this county and had silver series 8V92 Detroit Diesel high horsepower engines. Technology, emission laws, and time have made these units almost collector items but still very venerable as they have proven more dependable than newer fire engines that we had to purchase on the cheap due to declining budgets.
The photo was taken during Fire District #3’s 50th anniversary in May of 1998, and accompanying the photo includes a poem by firefighter Ryan Cox. This engine will spend several months a year being a first out or a primary fire engine; it has over 203,000 miles and counting.
Regretfully, these engines will age out or stop being considered working apparatus by fire insurance rating entities within the next 5 years.
I am a Lance
By Ryan Cox
I’ve been here since the year of ‘89
My odometer has clicked more than 200,000 times
I’ve seen great changes to the LFD#3
Some of your first fires were probably with me
Hundreds of children have stood on my step
I have been there when patients took their last breath
When the Ballroom was burning I answered the call
I’ve pumped countless gallons of water after all
Hendy commanded me from Station 34
You’ve always counted on me to get you out the door
You’ve relied on my pump to get water on the fire
You’ve used my winch to pull the tender from the mire
You’ve drive newer, and you’ve drive fast
But we both know the Sabre’s will never last
So please remember when you slam my gears
I might be around for another 20 years.
