There's been a lot of change in our family, which I won't drag you through, but it has led to some shifting priorities.
Engine 17 has been moved to a new facility and is now in Tacoma again, and is stored indoors, which is fantastic. But due to all of the aforementioned events, I have not had a chance to do really any work on her in years. But she made the 2.5 hour run up to Tacoma no problem, she just runs like a champ!
Backstory.... back in 2015 I became a map editor for the mobile GPS app Waze, mainly to improve the map in my old fire district. All editors are volunteers, but there is a progressive structure and hierarchy, and I've advanced (not always willingly) to the role of Washington State Co-Manager as of last fall.
In this role, after cleaning up the counties near where I live, I've been working to extensively review and clean up Pierce County since late last summer, and I'll probably be at it for over a year yet in my spare time, but as part of this process I ran across the Tacoma Fire Garage in the course of my work, and while looking at the aerial imagery there, something.... caught my eye.
Well now..... what's this? |
Is that what I think it is? |
That's a strong resemblance |
Anyway, here she is, whatever it is. It doesn't quite look 100% right, the bright coloring on the side towards the rear, but the cab configuration, the ladder rack (I'm told hydraulic ladder racks in 1970 were very rare), and even what looks like the old company number placard holder on the nose all looks spot on. This imagery is less than a year old, so maybe this rig is just there all the time.
I'm hoping to get up to Tacoma soon despite the stay-at-home orders (don't worry I won't visit anyone!) to see if I can get some confirmation.
In the meantime, if you'd like to tour the Tacoma Fire Garage through Google Earth and check it out for yourself, just click here.
Interesting stuff.
Stay safe and healthy out there.