Department Rigs (Past & Present)

In early 1952, the Long Creek Volunteer Fire Department purchased a brand new Ford F7 Cab and Chassis from the Ford Motor Company Dealership in Huntersville, North Carolina.  The unit contained a inline 6-cylinder motor accompanied by a 4-speed manual transmission and 2- speed rear axle.  The cab and chassis was delivered to Links Welding Shop at 7806 Beatties Ford Road.  Graham Link, one of the first elected Assistant Chiefs of the LCVFD and Fire Chief Emmett Wilson, spent countless hours in Links shop designing and building the body of the fire truck.  By June of 1952, the fire truck was completed and contained a 500 gallon per minute, John Bean high pressure mid-ship mounted pump and a booster tank that contained 500 gallons of water.

The original "Fire Truck That Long Creek Built" would respond to countless calls for service over the next (7) years.  In 1959, the department decided that the Ford F7 would need to be refurbished to continue providing quality service to the citizens and visitors of Mecklenburg County.  The truck would endure some extensive changes, including removing the mid-ship mounted pump and replacing it with a 500 gallon per minute Barton American front mount pump.  The reasoning behind the pump change was that the mid-ship pump was great for extinguishing fires in enclosed spaces such as a room and contents fire or small incendiary outside fire, but was useless when it came to a fire that required large volumes of water.  The front mount pump provided the members with the extra volume of water needed for larger fires that they would respond to.  The volume of water stored in the on-board booster tank was increased from 500 gallons to 900 gallons.  The hose reel was relocated from the left side of the rig to the top of the rig.  The drafting hose that was attached to the mid-ship pump intake was relocated to the front of the rig.  The ladders were moved from the top of the rig to the left side of the rig.  There were also emergency lighting upgrades and exterior cosmetic changes made.  This rig would serve the Long Creek Fire District for another (13) years before being replaced by a new Ford F-700 that was purchased in early 1972.  (1952-1972)  Pictured with the 1952 F7 is Chief Pete Elliott (left) and his nephew Scott Climer (right).

In 1955, The Long Creek Volunteer Fire Department purchased and converted a Ford fuel tanker into a 2200 gallon water tanker.  All of the conversions were made at Assistant Chief Graham Links welding shop on Beatties Ford Road.  The Tanker was designated as Long Creek Tanker # 2.  In 1956, this rig was sold and a similar truck was purchased.

In 1956, the LCVFD purchased and converted a second Ford fuel tanker into a 2200 gallon water tanker.  This rig replaced the 1955 model and all conversions were made in Assistant Chief Graham Links welding shop on Beatties Ford Road.  This unit would be designated as Long Creek Tanker # 4 and would remain in service for a total of 18-years until it was sold to the Gilead Volunteer Fire Department in Mecklenburg County.  This rig was replaced by a 1974 F-750.

In 1956, the Long Creek VFD was able to obtain a 1951 Dodge military surplus, 3/4-ton weapons carrier with a flathead 6-cylinder motor to be utilized as a brush fire unit.   Assistant Chief Graham Link would once again utilize his knowledge to transform this truck into an unstoppable firefighting machine.  Chief Link added a top to the cab, a Braden winch, a 230-gallon water tank, hose reel and hose, the plumbing, emergency lighting and other exterior cosmetics.  One of the old-timers stated that the truck was "Slow as Hell", but unstoppable.  In 1985, an extensive brush fire occurred in the Latta Plantation off of Beatties Ford Road.   The incident lasted 4-days and a county wide all-call was transmitted for all available man-power and brush units to respond.  The Long Creek unit was said to be the only truck that did not experience some sort of mechanical malfunction during the incident.  This unit remained in service for  36-years until it was replaced by a 1992 Ford F-350.  The 56 rig was eventually refurbished and sold to the Gilead Volunteer Fire Department in Mecklenburg County.

In 1972, the Long Creek VFD purchased a new 1972 Ford F-700 cab and chassis from the Ford Dealership in Huntersville, North Carolina.  The rig contained a 361 cubic inch motor and 5-speed manual transmission and would replace the aging 1952 Ford F-7.   Mr. Allen Irvin, owner of Irvin's Body Shop in Huntersville, constructed the body of the rig and built the remainder of the truck including installing emergency lighting, painting the truck, building the front-mount pump platform, installing the pump and completing all body wiring.  Mr. Irvin was also the Fire Chief of the Huntersville Fire Department for roughly 30-years and built numerous fire trucks for area fire departments.  Once the rig was completed it contained a 750 gallon per minute, Barton American front mount pump and a 1000 gallon on-board booster tank.   The rig would now become the new Long Creek Engine # 1 and would remain in service for (12) years before being replaced by a 1984 Ford C-8000.  The question has been asked as to why did Long Creek switch over to white fire trucks.  The white rigs came about when a group of members noticed a picture of a white fire truck in a magazine and they said, "We Like That!"  Funny how some things occur.

In 1974, The Long Creek Volunteer Fire Department purchased a new 1974 Ford F-750 cab and chassis with a 361 cubic foot motor and 5-speed manual transmission from the Ford Dealership in Huntersville, North Carolina.  The rig was purchased to replace the aging 1956 Ford 2200 gallon tanker.  The body of the rig was a Westside Tank Fire Body built by Southern Pump and Tank Company on North Graham Street in Charlotte.  Mr. Allen Irvin, owner of Irvin's Body Shop in Huntersville, was tasked with the job of building the remainder of the truck including installing emergency lighting, painting the truck, building the front mount pump platform, installing the pump and affixing the rear jet-assisted dump.  The rig had a 750 gallon per minute, Barton American front mount pump supplemented by a 1000 gallon on board booster tank. The rig would be designated as Long Creek Tanker # 4.  This rig would remain in service for (15) years before being replaced by a 1989 Ford C-8000 Pumper.  Pictured with the Tanker is Mark Auten (left) and Billy Todd (right).

In 1984, The Long Creek Volunteer Fire Department purchased a new 1984 Ford C-8000 open cab rig with a Caterpillar 3208 automatic transmission from the Pierce Fire Truck Manufacturing Company.  The rig had a Waterous 1000 gallon per minute, two-stage mid-ship mounted pump supported by a 750 gallon on-board booster tank.  This rig would replace the 1972 Ford F-700 rig and would now be designated Long Creek Engine # 1.  This was the departments first truck with an automatic transmission and it would remain in service for (12) years before being replaced by a 1996 enclosed cab Marion Gladiator.

In 1989, the Long Creek Volunteer Fire Department purchased a brand new 1989 Ford C-8000 open cab rig with a Caterpillar 3208 manual transmission from the Pierce Fire Truck Manufacturing Company.  The rig had a Waterous 1250 gallon per minute, two-stage mid-ship mounted pump supported by a 1000 gallon on-board booster tank.  This rig would replace the 1974 Ford F-750 and would be designated as Long Creek Engine # 2.  The rig was designed with an extended front bumper and front suction intake.  The rig remained in service for (18) years before being replaced by a 2007 Spartan Gladiator.

In 1992, the Long Creek Volunteer Fire Department purchased a brand new 1992 Ford F-350 Pick-up Truck for $29,241 to replace the 1956 Weapons Carrier.  The original unit was built by Craft Industries in Farmville, North Carolina.  The Side-Kick, 230 gallon skid unit with 300 gallon per minute American Godiva Spirit Pump was purchased and also mounted by Craft in the 8' bed of the pick-up.  Some years later the truck was involved in a crash while leaving the firehouse.  as a result of the crash, the current flat-bed body was constructed and it replaced the typical pick-up bed.  The original skid unit was also remounted.  The department converted to 1" forestry hose lines and the hose trays were fabricated and then installed by Scott Climer.  The unit has a 12,000 lb Warn Winch and at some point the stripping and lettering was changed over.

In 1996, the Long Creek Fire Department purchased a new rig that had a Spartan Diamond Chassis with Gladiator upgrades for $229,475.  The rig was built by Marion Body Works out of Marion, Wisconsin.  The rig was powered by a Cummins M-11 and housed a 1500 gallon per minute, Waterous 2-stage mid-ship mounted pump supported by 750 gallons of water in the on-board booster tank.  This was Long Creeks first enclosed cab and it had Air Conditioning!  The unit had a PTO generator, motorized drop cord reels, motorized hydraulic hose reels, light tower, remote control deck gun, 2200 psi cascade system (upgraded to 4000 psi later on) and a compliment of Phoenix hydraulic rescue tools.  This rig would replace the 1984 C-8000 and would be designated Long Creek Engine # 1 "The War Wagon".  This rig remained in service for (20) years until being replaced by a used 1994 Pierce Dash in 2016.  The term "Volunteer" was also removed from the trucks during this time period.

In 2007, the Long Creek Fire Department purchased a 2007 Demo Rig directly from the Smeal Fire Truck Company.  The unit was a Spartan Gladiator with a 460 hp Cummins motor and a 1500 gallon per minute Waterous, 2-stage mid-ship mounted pump supplemented by a 1000 gallon on-board booster tank.  Fire and Rescue is now added to the top of the rear cab doors.  The rig replaced the 1989 Ford C-8000 (Engine #2) and would be designated as Long Creek Engine # 3.  The rig remained in service for (12) years before being replaced by a brand new 2019 Pierce Enforcer.  The rig was sold to Kermit VFD in West Virginia.

In 2000, the Long Creek Fire Department purchased a new Ford F-550 to be utilized as a technical rescue unit.  Th rig was designated as Rescue 8.  In 2007, this rig was purchased by the North Mecklenburg Rescue Squad in Huntersville, North Carolina.  North Meck Rescue closed in July of 2017 after 58-years of service to the community.

In the early 2000's, the Long Creek Fire Department purchased a used 1998 Ford Expedition from Mecklenburg County Medic.  This unit was utilized to respond to First Responder Medical Incidents.  This unit was initially designated as Long Creek Rescue 12, but was re-designated as Long Creek Ops 2 once the 2008 Chevrolet 2500 was purchased.  This unit was sold once the new Rescue 12 was placed in service.

In 2008, the Long Creek Fire Department purchased a new 2008 Chevrolet 2500 series pick-up truck from the Parks Chevrolet Dealership at 6441 North Tryon Street, Charlotte, North Carolina.  A Quesco Extendo-Bed Slide Out Tray and Quesco Canopy was also installed.  This unit would replace the 1998 Ford Expedition that was purchased from Medic and would be designated as Long Creek Rescue 12.  The unit would be utilized primarily for Emergency Medical Responses and Technical Rescue Incidents.  As of January 2022, this unit has been stripped down and is in the process of being sold.  The unit served the Long Creek Fire District for (14) years and is being replaced by a 2021 Chevrolet 2500 HD Pick-up Truck.

In 2016, the Long Creek Fire Department purchased a used 2004 Pierce Dash Custom Pumper for $185,000 from the Goodwill Fire Company in York, Pennsylvania.  The rig has a 2000-gallon per minute single-stage, mid-ship mounted Hale pump supplemented by 750 gallons of water in the on-board booster tank.  The rig has a full compliment of firefighting equipment along with the LCFD's first set of Edraulic Extrication Tools, purchased from the Hurst Rescue Tool Company out of Monroe, North Carolina and a full set of Rescue 42 Stabilization Struts.  This rig replaced the Marion Engine # 1 and would be designated as Long Creek Engine # 4.   As of January 2022, this rig is still in service as a front line rig.

In 2019, the Long Creek Fire Department purchased a new Pierce Enforcer Pumper for $548,955 from Atlantic Emergency Solutions headquartered in Manassas, Virginia.  The rig is powered by a Cummins L9-450 hp motor, has a 2000 gallon per minute, single stage mid-ship mounted Waterous pump supplemented by 750 gallons of water in the on-board booster tank.  The rig also has a Husky 3 Foam Unit with a 30-gallon foam cell.  The rig has a full compliment of firefighting equipment along with a full set of Hurst Edraulic Extrication Tools and a full set of Rescue 42 Stabilization Struts.  The rig replaced the 2007 Spartan Gladiator (Engine # 3) and would be designated as Long Creek Engine # 10.  The department chose Engine # 10 due to our firehouse being designated as Station # 10.  As of January 2022, this rig is still in service as a front line rig.

In 2021, the Long Creek Fire Department purchased a new 2021 Chevrolet 2500 HD 4x4 Pick-up Truck.  This unit will replace the aging 2008 Chevrolet 2500 and will be designated as Rescue # 12.

In the mid 1950's, the Long Creek Volunteer Fire Department was able to obtain a 1953 DUNB military surplus trailer.  The unit was converted to a lighting unit by the members of the department and it housed a generator and two flood lights.  Unknown when this unit was removed from service.

In late 2019, the Long Creek Fire Department purchased a brand new 2020 (8.5 x 20) Cynergy Cargo Trailer for $8,334.00 from South East Cargo LLC in Nicholls, Georgia for hauling additional fire and rescue equipment.  The trailer is an addition to the fleet and has been designated as Trailer # 10.