Southern Vintage Fire Apparatus Association
The Southern Vintage Fire Apparatus Association is a Gardendale-based chapter of the Society for the Preservation and Appreciation of Antique Motorized Fire Apparatus in America with members across Alabama and Georgia. The group meets monthly at Jim 'N Nick's Bar-B-Q in Homewood.
The non-profit group's members own 17 vintage fire engines, many retired from local fire departments and restored to period detail. 12 of them are currently housed at the former Barber Motorsports Museum's 6th Avenue South location.
The group has recently worked for more public awareness. They held their first annual "muster", or show of vehicles, outside their storage facility on June 9, 2007. Members have driven vintage trucks in the annual Veterans Day parade and to chauffeur Santa Claus to The Summit.
The group is hoping to establish a permanent home for its collection, perhaps as a museum open to the public, and perhaps in a former fire station.
Vehicles
- 1927 American LaFrance (Homewood Fire Department's first engine)
- 1917 Seagrave Tillerman
References
- Singleton, William C. III (December 24, 2007) "Birmingham area group works to preserve old fire engines; permanent display housing considered." Birmingham News.