LOS ANGELES COUNTY FIRE MUSEUM COLLECTION
1973 Ward LaFrance Fire Engine - AKA... ENGINE 51
THE FAMOUS ENGINE 51
This is the second Engine 51 used in the EMERGENCY! television show, a 1973 Ward LaFrance. The County of Los Angeles Fire Museum brought it to Bellflower on August 8, 2008 from Yosemite National Park. It was in service there since the 1980s. The fire fighters in Yosemite took good care of the engine while it was in service.
A complete frame off restoration bringing the engine back to its appearance during the show was completed for its unveiling at the 51 in Quarters Event held at Station 127 on July 9th, 2011. Equipment contemporary to the gear it carried when it starred as Engine 51 in the 1970s has been added to the rig.
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The Ward is a 1000gpm triple combination P-80 Ambassador model powered by a Cummins NH855 250hp naturally aspirated diesel engine driving through an Allison HT-70 power shift transmission, and a 500-gallon booster tank. In their outward appearance both E-51 and the LACoFD rigs were identical. All the County Ward rigs plus E-51 had Federal Q2B sirens and Grover Stutter-tone air horns. The difference was different engines and the County rigs pumped 1250gpm.