Outstanding job gentlemen! This book brought back great memories for me about when I was a youngster and would visit Company 4 in Herndon. Both of my uncles (Richard and Tim) served the county, and my cousin Richard "Scotty" Slepetz is following in his dad's footsteps, stationed at Bailey's X-roads. It was great seeing my uncle Richard's 1955 GMC/American ex-Great Falls rig in the book. FYI, Richard is the heart and sole of the current Roto-Ray, having purchased the patents many moons ago, and continued to build and market these classic warning devices. FYI, I spoke to him not too long ago, in hopes of locating Herndon Wagon 4 (the open cab Ford C/Young), and he advised it was one of several rigs that were sold in the mid-eighties and sent overseas. The Navy-Vale and Sarah-Zane rigs are still around, and in private ownership.  - Mike Slepetz, Sterling, Massachusetts

THIS BOOK IS LONG OVERDUE, IN TODAY'S FIRE SERVICE WHERE ALL APPARATUS ALMOST LOOK THE SAME, IT GREAT TO SEE A BOOK HIGHLIGHTING THE APPARATUS OF THE PAST AS WELL AS ITS HISTORY. THANK YOU BOTH FOR UNDERTAKING THIS PROJECT AND SHARING IT WITH OTHERS. - J.T. Allison, III

“I received my copy yesterday of “80 Years of Fire & Rescue Apparatus in Fairfax County, Virginia:  1923-2003.”  This book is chock full of great apparatus of all types and is well worth having! – Steve Loftin.

Fire Apparatus Journal – September-October of 2004, p. 27:

“Pete West and Mike Sanders have joined forces to author 80 Years of Fire & Rescue Apparatus in Fairfax County, Virginia 1923 – 2003.  This soft-cover, 176-page book is loaded with photos of pumpers, ladder trucks, squads, ambulances, and special apparatus that served the many fire departments that make up Fairfax County.  Each department has its own chapter showing photos of each of its apparatus, along with extensive captions.  We admire the work of the authors in being able to reach back into the history of each department and come up with so many historical photos of their apparatus.  There are plenty of unusual and unique apparatus included.  The book traces the development and transformation of Fairfax apparatus from rural to urban.  This book will appeal to all apparatus enthusiasts regardless of their special interests.  It has everything:  all types of apparatus, many different manufacturers, rural and urban, antique and modern apparatus.  It is available for $38 postpaid directly from Pete West, PO Box 186, Philomont, VA 20131”.

Enjine!-Enjine!, (published by SPAAMFAA) – On The Bookshelf, by Tom Scott – 2004-3 edition

“SPAAMFAA members Peter West and Mike Sanders have compiled and published 80 Years of Fire and Rescue Apparatus in Fairfax County, Virginia 1923-2003.  The authors undertook the challenging objective of having a picture of every apparatus used by the fire companies in Fairfax County since the first company was chartered in 1923.  With a few exceptions the authors were able to achieve their objective.  Obviously, this was a major research undertaking since there are presently 37 companies in Fairfax County. 

The 175 page, 8 ½” x 11” soft bound volume has a section on each company in order from Company 1 to Company 39 (There are no companies 6 and 7.); the apparatus are presented in chronological order.  Most pages have three black-and-white shots with generally one rig per picture.  There are also some fire station photos with apparatus on the apron.  Well written captions provide the manufacturer, specifications, etc.  Many of the earlier rigs were purchased second hand in the early years.  Others were new purchases of one of the older companies and later sold to a newer company.  As the county began purchasing apparatus, there was shifting of apparatus to balance the county’s needs, rather than meeting the desires of individual companies. 

An index lists the apparatus by manufacturer.  A slant toward the purchase of commercial apparatus in the early years is consistent with the rural character of the county.  As would be expected, the pre-World War II rigs are primarily engines, tankers, and brush trucks.  An interesting listing of First and Lasts in the County indicates that the first ladder truck was not procured until 1958.  During the early years, Pirsch and American La France was predominate.  Over the following years most of the major makes were seen with the exception of Ahrens-Fox. 

The big expansion of the area occurred after World War II.  Accordingly, there are many interesting pictures of open cab apparatus from the 1950’s and 60’s while the number of rigs from the 1920’s through the mid 1940’s is inherently less.  (The last open cab truck was purchased in 1970).  Another Fairfax County first was the purchase of one of the four American LaFrance turbine powered apparatus built during the early 1960’s.  The engine was quickly converted to diesel power since the vertical exhaust directed fire towards the station ceiling and the braking system was inadequate. 

The postpaid price is $38 from Peter West.  P.O. Box 186, Philomont, VA 20131”.

Fire Rosters – Fire Book Worm, by Dave Miller – June 2004

“Fairfax County, Virginia:  80 Years of Fire Apparatus History 1923-2003, by Pete West and Mike Sanders.  Virginia’s largest fire department has a very interesting fire apparatus history.  From the early rigs that were either homemade or hand-me-downs to the custom rigs of today, this well documented (book) is loaded with excellent photos in the county.  Covering Engines – or “Wagons” as they were once called, Aerial Ladders, Squads, Ambulances and the unusual rigs from foam units, light and air trucks, brush trucks, tankers, technical rescues and much more.  Cost is only $35 each plus $3 S/H from:  Pete West, PO Box 186, Philomont, VA 20131”

“Excellent book!! I grew up in Vienna, my dad is Bill Ellis with the VVFD (Vienna). So many of those pictures brought back memories of the units I saw growing up…” Bob Ellis, Manassas VVFD.

The Visiting Fireman – 2005
The Fire Buff’s Bookshelf

Fairfax County, Virginia: 80 Years of Fire Apparatus History 1923 – 2004 by Pete West and Mike Sanders. Another volume that deserves high commendation is this well documented photo essay which tells the history of apparatus, both fire and rescue units, serving the Virginia county that adjoins Washington D.C. Soft cover, 176 pages in length, the book is literally full of high quality black and white photographs. The volume is subdivided by the various departments, which make up the county’s apparatus fleet. Each department is presented showing both former units of it apparatus fleet plus sunshine photos of the current vehicles in service. Each photo is accompanied by a well-researched caption that fully documents the unit’s age, equipment, and utilization status. In addition to pre-staged vehicle shots, the volume includes some factory photos, apparatus accident scene shots, and firehouse ramp shots, which feature the station’s architecture. Given the depth of good research and the high volume of photos presented, this book comes highly recommended for buffs that have a passion for apparatus or departmental histories. This book can be purchased for a price of $35.00 plus $3.00 shipping. Mail checks or money orders to: Pete West, PO Box 186 Philomont, Virginia 20131.

"Great book guys! I got mine at the Firehouse Expo and should have bought two, as my copy will be dog-eared before long." ..... Jim Tully Jr.

"I love the book and if you produce a second edition count me in." ..... Gordon Hall

"The book looks great. It was pretty cool listening to my Dad talk about driving the old rigs that you have in the book. I think it brought back a lot of great memories from his days up there in the big city. Thanks to both of you for your hard work. It is nice to see FXCO get the recognition it deserves".... Shawn Oke

“Hi Mike, the book arrived today. It is excellent and it brought back a lot of memories, particularly the old station photos. Many were as I remembered them when I was 9 or 10 years old”. – Mike Bishop.