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Faux fire department keeps antique trucks rolling
  
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By STEFANIE THOMAS
The fire trucks are all in perfect working order, but a 911 call won’t draw this fire department’s response. The prospect of a good time, on the other hand, certainly will.
Established in 1991, the Moonshine Hill Involuntary Fire Department has delighted the community with its line-up of 14 antique fire trucks by displaying its apparatus at local events and enriching area parades for any occasion.
The four founders of the Moohshine Hill IFD - Humble Fire Marshal Clint Johnson, local restaurateur Harvey Trigg, Humble resident Tom Morrison and Kingwood resident Tim Treadway - have a gleam in their eyes as they talk about their hobby: collecting, and sometimes restoring, antique fire trucks.
“That’s all we do, we just have fun with them,” Trigg explained. “We do benefits and parades. Clint Johnson brought one to the Humble homecoming parade [last week], for example. We just try to keep old fire trucks running.”
Among the more than a dozen trucks, there is the 1964 American LaFrance ladder truck that was used in College Station back in the day andwhich now belongs to the Trigg family. Then there is the 1914 American LaFrance, the oldest truck of the lot, now proudly owned by Morrison. And, of course, the 1947 Mack, which was originally in used in Bellaire, Texas. Johnson purchased this beauty from the River Plantation. The fire truck is still used for ceremonial purposes, but has in the past also been utilized as a hearse, transporting firefighters to their final resting place.
The fire trucks, one of the largest collections of antique trucks around, are stored at several garages around town. But the Moonshine Hill IFD’s headquarters is located on Herman Street in Humble, where a fire-engine red barn houses Johnson’s collectibles. Boldly emblazoned near the roof line, as one would find at any self-respecting fire department, the name of the club is stenciled in big white letters.
Inside the barn, a treasure trove of tools, rolls and rolls of fire hoses, fire helmets and awards are neatly arranged. Here, Johnson works on restoring old, rusty fire apparatus to its former glory.
Trigg said that the department was named for Moonshine Hill, a tiny oil field town once situated between Humble and Atascocita.
“Moonshine Hill actually never had a fire department,” Trigg said. “Just as you get out of town, where old 1960 and new 1960 meet, to the left, that’s Moonshine Hill. There’s even a historical marker there. The town never had anything; it was kind of a wild town. There’s nothing there now and Moonshine Hill is more a memory than anything. So we figured, ‘Involuntary Fire Department.’”
Trigg said that he bought his first fire truck from a friend of his, simply because he liked the look of it and it reminded him of his childhood days.
“I remember these older model fire trucks from when I was a kid,” he recalled. “They looked so cool, so polished. Plus, I’ve always enjoyed cars that look good. I liked this one and just bought it. That was before we even started the fire department.”
About a year ago, the members of the Moonshine Hill IFD appointed a chief. David Porter, 44, may not own an antique fire truck, but through loyalty and eager participation had risen up through the ranks - from captain to assistant chief, until he finally earned the top honor of department chief.
“He’s the chief of fun,” Trigg said.
Johnson, Trigg, Treadway and Morrison are members of SPAMFAA, or the Society for Preservation and Appreciation of Motor Fire Apparatus in America. Their fire trucks have won numerous awards and trophies. Morrison even turned his love for antique fire trucks into a side business, renting the trucks out for parties and special events.
Johnson and Trigg said they find it hard to resist the temptation to buy more fire trucks, some of which they find at auctions.
“The last time Clint and I went out of town to look at a truck, the last thing my wife said before we left was, ‘Don’t you buy another fire truck!’” Trigg said with a mischievous grin “Well, we didn’t. We bought two.”
Johnson said that while a modern ladder truck costs around three quarters of a million dollars these days, a quality antique truck sells for less than $5,000.
Next on the department’s wish list: a tiller fire truck.
Rent a fire truck
For information on renting an antique fire truck, call 281-540-4343 or visit www.antiquefiretruckparties.com.
Established in 1991, the Moonshine Hill Involuntary Fire Department has delighted the community with its line-up of 14 antique fire trucks by displaying its apparatus at local events and enriching area parades for any occasion.
The four founders of the Moohshine Hill IFD - Humble Fire Marshal Clint Johnson, local restaurateur Harvey Trigg, Humble resident Tom Morrison and Kingwood resident Tim Treadway - have a gleam in their eyes as they talk about their hobby: collecting, and sometimes restoring, antique fire trucks.
“That’s all we do, we just have fun with them,” Trigg explained. “We do benefits and parades. Clint Johnson brought one to the Humble homecoming parade [last week], for example. We just try to keep old fire trucks running.”
Among the more than a dozen trucks, there is the 1964 American LaFrance ladder truck that was used in College Station back in the day andwhich now belongs to the Trigg family. Then there is the 1914 American LaFrance, the oldest truck of the lot, now proudly owned by Morrison. And, of course, the 1947 Mack, which was originally in used in Bellaire, Texas. Johnson purchased this beauty from the River Plantation. The fire truck is still used for ceremonial purposes, but has in the past also been utilized as a hearse, transporting firefighters to their final resting place.
The fire trucks, one of the largest collections of antique trucks around, are stored at several garages around town. But the Moonshine Hill IFD’s headquarters is located on Herman Street in Humble, where a fire-engine red barn houses Johnson’s collectibles. Boldly emblazoned near the roof line, as one would find at any self-respecting fire department, the name of the club is stenciled in big white letters.
Inside the barn, a treasure trove of tools, rolls and rolls of fire hoses, fire helmets and awards are neatly arranged. Here, Johnson works on restoring old, rusty fire apparatus to its former glory.
Trigg said that the department was named for Moonshine Hill, a tiny oil field town once situated between Humble and Atascocita.
“Moonshine Hill actually never had a fire department,” Trigg said. “Just as you get out of town, where old 1960 and new 1960 meet, to the left, that’s Moonshine Hill. There’s even a historical marker there. The town never had anything; it was kind of a wild town. There’s nothing there now and Moonshine Hill is more a memory than anything. So we figured, ‘Involuntary Fire Department.’”
Trigg said that he bought his first fire truck from a friend of his, simply because he liked the look of it and it reminded him of his childhood days.
“I remember these older model fire trucks from when I was a kid,” he recalled. “They looked so cool, so polished. Plus, I’ve always enjoyed cars that look good. I liked this one and just bought it. That was before we even started the fire department.”
About a year ago, the members of the Moonshine Hill IFD appointed a chief. David Porter, 44, may not own an antique fire truck, but through loyalty and eager participation had risen up through the ranks - from captain to assistant chief, until he finally earned the top honor of department chief.
“He’s the chief of fun,” Trigg said.
Johnson, Trigg, Treadway and Morrison are members of SPAMFAA, or the Society for Preservation and Appreciation of Motor Fire Apparatus in America. Their fire trucks have won numerous awards and trophies. Morrison even turned his love for antique fire trucks into a side business, renting the trucks out for parties and special events.
Johnson and Trigg said they find it hard to resist the temptation to buy more fire trucks, some of which they find at auctions.
“The last time Clint and I went out of town to look at a truck, the last thing my wife said before we left was, ‘Don’t you buy another fire truck!’” Trigg said with a mischievous grin “Well, we didn’t. We bought two.”
Johnson said that while a modern ladder truck costs around three quarters of a million dollars these days, a quality antique truck sells for less than $5,000.
Next on the department’s wish list: a tiller fire truck.
Rent a fire truck
For information on renting an antique fire truck, call 281-540-4343 or visit www.antiquefiretruckparties.com.
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