PA Fire Department Welcomes Return of 1960s-Era Apparatus

When Jeannette fire Chief Bill Frye and Mark Scalzitti were junior firefighters, they would jump on the back of a 1965 Mack fire engine to respond to calls.

Too young to drive it at the time, both have fond memories of getting suited up in the fire station and riding Engine 6 through town, the siren blaring. The engine spent the last 19 years with private collectors elsewhere in the state after the city sold it in 2001.

Now the old friend is back home.

And this time Frye and Scalzitti get to drive.

“I appreciate it for the history that it is, and I’m glad that people get to enjoy it now,” said Scalzitti, the proud owner of a vintage fire truck.

Engine 6 served the city for 21 years and, after that, it acted as a backup to a newer truck until it was sold to someone on the other side of the state, Frye said.

Then someone else near Carlisle bought it three years ago, Scalzitti said. When it was put up for sale recently, Scalzitti jumped at the chance. He went to see it in January and had it hauled back to Jeannette. He declined to say what he paid.

Scalzitti, owner of Master Kleen Cleaning and Restoration, had Engine 6 wet sanded and buffed. The lettering, which had been replaced by a previous owner, was restored with help of Fejes Signs. An original fire hose that was lying around the station was put back on the truck, and it looks as good as new.

“This is what it would’ve looked like normally,” Scalzitti said.

But the difference between the 1965 version and current fire trucks are vast, Frye said. Engine 6 doesn’t have power steering. It has a manual transmission. It lacks all the electronic gadgets that help firefighters when working at a call.

But it runs and brings a smile to the face of many, from Scalzitti’s children to retired firefighters. The truck is participating in a birthday party this weekend for a firefighter’s child and will be taking a retired member on a joy ride. It’s fun for Frye to have the piece of history back, too.

“I went to my first fire here on that,” he said.

The truck will be used in parades and other special events as well as funerals for members. It’s the sixth engine in the department’s history and carries a lot of memories for many retired members.

”I’m glad I could bring something back to the city,” Scalzitti said. “I’m glad people can enjoy it.”

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