July 26--A large collection containing 32 pieces of antique fire apparatus is looking for a new home in San Francisco -- a city well known for its deep history when it comes to firefighting.
The San Francisco Examiner reports that the vintage firefighting vehicles are currently in the care of the Guardians of the City Museum and Safety Learning Center, whose mission is "to celebrate the lives, history and service of the City and County of San Francisco first responders of the Fire, Police, Sheriff and Emergency Medical Departments," according to its website.
At issue is the fact that the city actually still owns the vehicles, so the museum's leadership is calling on local officials to find a permanent home for the collection, which was once valued at over $2.6 million but has depreciated to about $1.4 million after being exposed to a few damp winters while sitting either outdoors and in open-air garages. The vehicles range in factory date from 1820 to 1992.
The Guardians group was scheduled to present the issue to the city's Fire Commission on Wednesday night, according to the Examiner. Considering the San Francisco Fire Department just celebrated its 150th anniversary last year, it would indeed be a shame if such a glorious testament to its history were cast aside.
"San Francisco is committed to preserving and protecting pieces of history that tell the story of our city," a spokesperson for Mayor Ed Lee told the Examiner.
