four alarm fun!

While I continue to deny it to myself, it’s looking less and less likely that I will ever fulfill my childhood dreams of owning my own dinosaur or robot. But I can still buy a fire engine of my very own some day.

There are people who have done exactly that and they’re in Tampa this weekend showing off their prized possessions at the Society for the Preservation & Appreciation of Antique Motor Fire Apparatus in America (SPAAMFAA) Annual Meeting and Convention being held at the Howard Johnson Plaza in downtown.

Amazing vehicles like the one pictured here are currently on display in the hotel parking lot and it’s free to go by and check them out.

FUN FACT: many of these trucks were purchased from their departments for less than $5000. But it’s obvious from a first glance that a lot more than that (plus love) has gone into keeping them in such beautiful shape.

SPAAMFAA members are attending seminars and taking tours between now and when the convention ends on Saturday, but not before a water pumping demonstration that will take place in the park and on the river, featuring upwards of 40 pieces of equipment, including the Tampa Fire Department’s fireboat, on Saturday, starting at 10:00AM. Many of the people who own these vehicles are current or former firefighters and they will be on hand to share information about their fire engines as well as their own personal stories.

The display of vehicles taking place now and Saturday’s demonstration are free and open to the public.

The Howard Johnson Plaza is located at 111 W. Fortune Street, directly north of the Straz Center (formerly known as the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center).