530

FIRE TRUCKS AT WAR

Class 530

The Class 530 fire truck was built on the GM CCKW, 2 1/2 ton, 6x6, chassis and the
bodies were manufactured by General Detroit and Central Fire Trucks. The General
Detroit truck was equipped with 11.00 x 18.00 low pressure tires, a 640 gallon elliptical
shaped water tank which necessitated an elevated hose bed with high body sides and
a Type F, Barton-American front mounted 500 gpm centrifugal pump. To provide
better truck performance the Central Fire Trucks version was equipped with a 400
gallon rectangular shaped tank with allowed a much lower hose bed and body sides.
This vehicle carried a Darley, F-500, front mounted 500 gpm centrifugal pump. Both
trucks were equipped with duel booster reels each carrying 150 feet of 1 in hose and a
hose bed which held 600 feet of 2 1/2 in and 400 feet of 1 1/2 hose. Standard fire
fighting equipment was supplied with both versions. It is unclear on just how many of
the 530s were manufactured, Army records indicate that at least 25 General-Detroit
units were built and delivered to Fire Fighting Platoons at Fort Lewis, WA. Photos from
the Korean War era show many of the Central built trucks in operation.

Class 750

The Class 750 fire truck was a triple combination pumping engine with a midship mounted 750 gpm
pump. It was the largest pumper supplied to Army post and was the same type used by the municipal
fire departments. The Class 750 was usually assigned to post having large water supplies and
needing large caliber streams. The trucks were built by American LaFrance, Buffalo, Mack, Maxim,
Pirsch, Ward LaFrance and Seagrave on a standard 4x2 chassis. The water tank carried 150 gals of
water and 150 ft. of 1 in. hose was carried on a reel or in a basket mounted atop of the hose body.
The hose body held 1200 ft. of 2 1/2 hose, It was equipped with standard fire fighting tools and was
used for combating structural fires at camps, post and stations.

H Smith Collection

1942 Maxim 750 4x2 Pumper USA 501663

1941 Seagrave

1941 American LaFrance

1942 Pirsch USA 501114

1941 Pirsch USA 50483

1942 Sterling-Pirsch

Class BF 750

The Class BF 750 was a triple combination pumping engine with a midship mounted 750 gpm pump. The
truck appeared in 1938 and was constructed by the U.S. Army at the Holabird Quartermaster Depot,
Baltimore, MD. It was powered by a 105 HP Continental engine. The water tank held 150 gals. and 150
ft. of 1 in. hose was carried in a basket mounted over the pump. It was equipped with standard fire
fighting equipment required for structural fire fighting. The hose body held 1000 ft. of 2 1/2 in. hose.