C.F.B Engine 1 Restoration

The Carmel Fire Buffs has been in existence since 1991 under the direction of retired Assistant Chief Jim Martin who has taken great pride and dedicated his retirement years to restoring and upgrading the old Carmel Fire Department Headquarters located at 210 1st Ave S.W. in downtown Carmel. 

While the allocation of funds has been very limited, he continues to be inspired and works incessantly to salvage a piece of history by maintaining the museum and the equipment that has been donated over the years.  Our museum has provided not only countless school-age children but also local citizens and visitors from around the country a peek into Carmel’s public service past.  The Fire Buffs and current members of the fire department have come to understand the importance of preserving not only the old headquarters fire station but also have made it a priority to locate some of the old engines that served the community in the early years.  

Being witness to Chief Martin’s convictions impassioned us to get involved and so in June of 2017, we pledged an allegiance and began a journey in what we thought might be a wild goose chase, to locate one of our old engines. This particular engine was a 1960 Ford C 850 manufactured by Howe Fire Apparatus in Anderson Indiana that Carmel had purchased new in 1960 and it remained in service with us until 1981 when it was traded back to Howe for a new truck.  At that time, the truck went through a moderate overhaul at Manifold and Shrieves who sold the truck to Fishers Volunteer Fire Department which is a neighboring community, where it remained in service until 1993.  The truck was then donated to Kinniconick Fire Department in Kentucky where it served until 2003.

Further investigations in 2017 revealed the truck might be sitting in a salvage yard in Morehead Kentucky. Remarkably, we were able to make contact with their Fire Chief, Matt Ross who was gracious enough to send us a picture of the truck and where she sat frozen in time. Tensions were high and confidence was low knowing the odds were against us in finding the truck after so many years had passed.  Retired Battalion Chief Dufek made the trip to Kentucky with hopes of seeing the truck and to look for any signs that would confirm the truck was, in fact, the one we were looking for. Once he got to the truck, he opened the driver’s door and located a City of Carmel inventory tag that had been attached (see picture) An agreement was reached with the salvage yard owner we were going to bring her home.  On August 15, 2017, historical old Engine 1 returned home to our community where she so proudly served for 21 years. 

Since her return, the process to begin a total restoration has begun with members of the Fire Buffs and the Carmel Fire Maintenance Division leading the way.

The cost for the restoration project is being funded through private and corporate donations and any grant money that is available with a projected cost of $100,000.  Currently, the Carmel Fire Buffs and Fire Department Museum is a 501 (c) 3 not-for-profit organization registered with the IRS.

Carmel Fire Buffs and Fire Department Museum along with the fire department are compelled to preserving the life and history of the fire service in Carmel.  “ If we don’t do it—No one else will”