Engine 21

Pleasant Hills Engine 21 is a 1949 Mack Open Cab "B" Model Pumper.  It was the first "brand new" fire truck ever purchased by Pleasant Hills Fire  Company and was originally named Engine No. 1. This brand new pumper served as our first and main line of defense from 1949 to 1953 backed up only by our previous Chevrolet Pick-Up with a front mount pump.  No. 1 was quite a fire truck in its day, with a 500 gallon water tank and a 750 GPM pump, hard suction tubes for drafting, a roof and extension ladder, huge round glass search lights, fire extiguishers, supply line, and two pre-connected booster reels.  It underwent many changes over the years. The booster reels were replaced by 1 1/2" pre-connected handlines and it carried 3 1/2" supply line as it continued to be an active engine through the years.  Eventually we removed the aging water tank and stored several buckets of AAF foam in its place.  At one point in the late 1990's there was a controversial push to sell the nostalgic piece of fire company history to make more room in the station.  But thanks in large part to a counterpush led by Gene Esken Sr. to keep it, the old Engine No. 1 is still here with us today.  It has been partially restored and is used mainly for parades and non-emergency events although it still sees some real action from time to time.