1940 American LaFrance 85' Aerial, Enid Fire Department

Don Froese remembers riding the 1940 American LaFrance 85' aerial truck when he joined the Enid Fire Department in 1955. He has spent the past five years restoring that truck, after acquiring it through unusual methods.

Froese, a retired Enid training chief, heard about the truck after the Enid chief visited the American LaFrance Museum in North Carolina. Both decided it belonged in Oklahoma. So Froese called the museum only to find the truck sold to a private museum in Houston. After some negotiation, Froese said the new owner agreed to donate the truck to the Oklahoma State Firefighters Museum.

After removing the truck to Enid, restoration work began. The truck has been repainted, the wooden ladders refinished and various parts re-chromed. An Enid mechanic volunteered to do much of the refinishing and donated his time to the project.

The truck was on display outside the Cherokee Strip during the 113th annual OSFA Convention in June. Froese said the truck is ready to be moved to the Oklahoma State Firefighters Museum.  This fine truck is now on permanent display inside the "Motorized Room" at the Oklahoma State Firefighters Museum.

Don Froese is pictured below.

The restored wooden ladders.

Above, various elements of the restored truck. Below, Don hard at work.