01-05-2025
McPherson Fire Department reclaims vintage fire engine
McPHERSON, Kan. (KSNW) — A piece of McPherson's firefighting history has come home.
The McPherson Fire Department has recovered its 1949 Seagrave Fire Engine, a truck that served the community from 1949 to 1975. After nearly 50 years away, the vintage vehicle was delivered back to town Tuesday morning, arriving just before noon and now housed behind Fire Station No. 2.
The return of the historic engine sparked interest online.
'This truck is part of our department's legacy,' the department said in a social post. 'Bringing it back was a labor of love.'
The Seagrave had been in Manchester, Iowa. Two department members and two local volunteers made the long-haul journey to retrieve it, departing McPherson early Monday and stopping overnight in Missouri before completing the trip.
The fire engine was acquired from Judy Keuter, who had preserved the truck. Credit for initiating the reunion goes to Forrest 'Fuzzy' Durey, who helped coordinate the sale and transportation.
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The department plans to restore the truck to running condition and will soon launch fundraising efforts to cover repair and restoration costs.
'This is just the beginning,' the department said in the post. 'We can't wait to get it running again and share this piece of history with the community.'
You can follow the McPherson Fire Department on Facebook for updates.
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