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  Welcome!                                                                                                                                  


                                 
                                             ~ Our 56th Year ~

         

Although our roots go back as far as World War II and the Seattle "Auxiliary" Fire Department,
the Last Resort Fire Department officially began in 1969 when a handful of dedicated individuals
banded together to form what is now one of the largest collections of antique motorized fire
apparatus in the Pacific Northwest.  

The "LRFD" is a non-profit, charitable corporation, dedicated to the acquisition, restoration,
preservation and display of classic antique motorized fire apparatus.  The rigs can be seen in parades, car and truck shows, fire station dedications, fire prevention exhibits, static displays and other community events.

 




                                          Boyd S. Thomaier
                                             1916 ~ 1991
                       Captain, Seattle Auxiliary Fire Department
                       Co-Founder,  Last Resort Fire Department

Our primary mission has always been the preservation of Seattle Fire Department history.  Our collection is comprised of several unique fire apparatus from the SFD.  Included are Seattle's only Ahrens-Fox, which was fully restored in the mid-1960's, and three of Seattle's tillered aerials - their last wooden aerial - a 1929 Mack, their first metal aerial - a 1937 Seagrave, and their last "conventional-cab" tillered aerial - a 1969 Kenworth/Maxim.  We also have the SFD's last city-service ladder truck - a 1950 Kenworth, and what we believe to be the oldest surviving motorized fire apparatus from the SFD - a 1913 Seagrave City Service Ladder.  The SFD's only Bulldog Mack is included in our collection, although it has yet to be restored.

We work closely with the Seattle Fire Department, providing apparatus for fire prevention activities, fire station dedications and open houses, as well as recruit graduation ceremonies.  In addition, upon request, we transport their horse-drawn and motorized steamers to parades and displays.  We strive to promote a professional image in keeping with fire service tradition. 

Our maintenance facility was built in 1973, and currently houses 12 of our rigs, including
pumpers, city service ladder trucks, and tillered aerials.  Because we've outgrown our facility, there are several rigs in the collection that are stored in various locations in the Seattle area.  The collection consists primarily of retired Seattle Fire Department apparatus and equipment. We also maintain hundreds of historic photographs, alarm equipment, station furnishings, nozzles, extinguishers, helmets, and several items unique to the S.F.D.  A portion of our collection of apparatus and artifacts are on display at our museum at Seattle Fire Department Headquarters in Pioneer Square.  The museum allows the public and firefighters and their families the opportunity to experience the history of the fire service in general, the Seattle Fire Department in particular.

           

It's quite a sight watching our active fleet of fifteen antique and vintage fire engines and ladder trucks, dating from 1913 to 1969, as they proceed down the street, all in a row, with our uniformed members on board.  Each year, thousands of people of all ages thrill to the sight and sound of these magnificent machines.

           

That small group who started the LRFD so many years ago had a vision -- that those wonderful
old relics that helped save so many lives and property for so many years, should not all end up
being lost or scrapped. They were aware, and we know too, that too many significant bits of
our past have been reduced to a mere memory or an old photograph. We at the LRFD are doing
everything possible to keep this nostalgic representation of our area's fire service heritage
alive for our future generations to learn from, and enjoy.

           

 

      

 

 

         

The LAST RESORT FIRE DEPARTMENT is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.  If you would care to help support the LRFD so we may continue to preserve and display the rich heritage of the fire service, you can send your tax-deductible contribution to:

 

     LAST RESORT FIRE DEPARTMENT

       1433 NW 51st St

       Seattle WA 98107

 

OR DONATE NOW . . .

 



 

 

 

 



       

 

                        LAST RESORT FIRE DEPARTMENT

 

     1.  MUSEUM - located in "Pioneer Square"

 

     2.  SHOP/MAINTENANCE FACILITY - located in "Ballard" 

 

                              ~ The address for each facility is listed below ~

 

        

                     Last Resort Fire Department Museum

 

 

                            Located in Seattle Fire Department Headquarters

 

 

                        301-2nd Ave South (at S. Main St) in Pioneer Square

 

                          

                     The Museum is open every THURSDAY

                                          11:00am to 3:00pm

                                  

                                        All year - except Holidays

 

                                     ADMISSION IS FREE

       

 

            LRFD Shop/Storage & Maintenance Facility

          1433 NW 51st St (at the North end of the Ballard Bridge) in Ballard

                    The Shop/Storage Facility does NOT have regular hours 

        Arrangements can be made to visit the Shop Facility by contacting the LRFD

              Phone  206-783-4474  or e-mail us at  lastresortfd@hotmail.com

                                       ADMISSION IS FREE

 

       

         

All photos on this page, and on this website are the property of the LAST RESORT FIRE DEPARTMENT

unless otherwise noted.  Photos and information contained on this website may not be reproduced in

any form without express permission from the LAST RESORT FIRE DEPARTMENT or the owner of the

photo as listed in the photo credit.

 

NOTE: 

Newer computers equipped with "Internet Explorer 9" are not totally compatible with our website. 

We have spent much time and effort attempting to re-align the pages, photos and captions so they

will look presentable with "Internet Explorer 9 as well as the older "Internet Explorer 8 and 7".

You may notice some crowded spacing, and photos and captions that are off-center or mis-aligned.

MAC computers also have some difficulty interfacing with our website.

          

 

 

                    

 

 

 

 

 

 

            

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     This website created by Pixations.com - 8/12/07 - BWF



                                                 
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