Note: Crown Firecoach Enthusiasts apologizes that some sections are currently under construction.
Crown Firecoach Enthusiasts is a non-profit organization for owners and fans of the fire engines & trucks made by Crown Coach Corporation, Los Angeles, Ca. Crown Firecoach was known for building the finest fire equipment on the West Coast. All major Cities were known to have purchased the Crown Engines and Trucks which provided more years of frontline service than any other manufacture. Crown equipment was in Hawaii, Alaska, West Coast to New Jersey, as well as deployed to several foreign countries. We are dedicated to preserving and appreciating the history of the Crown Firecoach.
Historical Archives of the Firecoach Division of the Crown Coach Corporation of Los Angeles We are dedicated to preserving and appreciating the history of the Crown Firecoach.
Click here to see the Calendar of Events
CFE's Brian Dierkens Memorial Award
At Los Angeles Fire Department, Fire Station 94, CFE Director David Steinitz presented the Brian Dierkens Memorial Award to LAFD Fire Cadet Edreck Gutierrez. Edreck is 19 years old and has been a fire cadet. He was born and raised in Los Angeles and is living with his younger brother and his parents.
He has been a positive role model for his fellow Fire Cadets and family members. A lot of his time is occupied with volunteering, education and work with his family. Edreck is always looking to make the difference and help others in any way that he can. 4 years ago, his volunteering was expanded when he became a Fire Cadet at LAFD Station 94. He is a graduate of Hamilton High School and is currently attending Fire Service classes at El Camino College, where his studies are related to Fire and Emergency Technology, and he maintains a GPA of 3.5 average. In February 2020 he was accepted into the El Camino Fire Academy, where his studies help him work towards a Fire Service Career.
The Annual Brian Dierkens Award and Scholarship was established in 1998 to honor Brian Dierkens, the late teenage son of past CFE President, Ron Dierkens. Brian was a fire explorer and planned a career in the fire service before his life was tragically cut short.
The award is presented annually to a young person who is between the ages of 15 and 25, male or female, who is of excellent character, has a genuine interest in the Fire or EMS Services, an interest in antique fire apparatus preservation and education and promotion of SPAAMFAA ideals. Several past recipients have gone on to work as firefighters, EMTs and Paramedics, either as volunteers or career professionals.
The First Firecoach Models with Aerial Devices were Produced in 1960 and 1961
(Above) The very first Crown with an aerial device was F-1221, a 50-foot Pittman Snorkel for Elko, NV, in 1960. Built on a International Harvester VCO-190 cab-over-engine chassis with a 2-door, enclosed tilt-cab, it was powered by a IH 549 c.i. V8 gasoline engine and had a 750 gpm Waterous pump and 300 gallon tank.
The second Crown/Snorkel, and the first aerial device on a custom Firecoach chassis, was F-1222, completed in 1961. It was built as a Demo and later sold to Snohomish Co WA (the final fire service owner was Crown Point, IN). It had a 65-foot Snorkel and no pump or tank and was powered by a 935 c.i. (325 h.p.) Hall Scott gasoline engine. In this rare color factory image taken at the time of certification of the boom, the truck had yet to have the ladder racks and ladders added. (Both images from the Crown Firecoach Archives and any reuse requires permission from crownfirecoach@earthlink.net)
Crown Firecoach "Engine 51" Featured on Los Angeles County Fire Museum 2018 Grand Opening Commemorative Coin
The Los Angeles County Fire Museum had a grand opening event on July 14, 2018 for its new two-story, 27,000-square-foot facility in Bellflower, CA. Among the collectable items for sale at the grand opening was this commemorative coin (front and back sides shown) depicting LA County "Engine 51," the 1965 Crown featured on the TV series “Emergency!” There were also coins available depicting "Squad 51" and the Ward LaFrance "Engine 51." All three of the actual vehicles are part of the museum’s collection on display at the new facility. CFE plans to have a meeting at the new museum in the near future.
In Memoriam Longtime CFE Member Doug Stoner Passes
Doug Stoner, wearing his signature hat, behind the wheel of his 1959 International/Van Pelt pumper during the apparatus parade at the 2002 Winter SPAAMFAA Conference in San Bernardino, CA.
Douglas J. Stoner passed away on May 9, 2018. Doug was a very active CFE member during the mid-late 1990s and early 2000s. He was the owner of a 1959 Van Pelt International pumper, distinct for its yellow color, which he and his daughter Emily (also a CFE member in those years) brought to many events, including the annual Pump-Ins, Code 3 Toy Runs to Children's Hospital Los Angeles and the 2002 Winter SPAAMFAA Convention in San Bernardino. Doug served on the CFE board for several years. He is survived by his wife Shirley and his daughter and son.