PHOTOS: On Dec. 14, 1920, a shiny, new, red truck rumbled into Mount Vernon.
It wasn’t Santa’s sleigh come to spread early holiday cheer, but was instead the newest addition to the Mount Vernon Fire Department — Skagit County’s first motorized fire engine.
“It was something new and different than what a lot of people had,” said retired Mount Vernon firefighter Terry Hill.
On Dec. 14, 2020, with a fresh coat of wax, some new running boards and a few other improvements, the department’s vintage American LaFrance fire engine was rolled into its bay at the department’s LaVenture Road fire station, its home for the past three decades.
In honor of the truck’s 100th birthday, Hill and fellow retired firefighters spent about 150 hours during the past month restoring it offsite before bringing it home where it will once again be displayed for the public.
“Keeping it in good condition is not just a reminder of the history of the department and where we’ve been and where we’re going, but also the dedication of the firefighters,” Mount Vernon Fire Chief Bryan Brice said.