Of the 108 vintage vehicles that were recently on display at The Society for the Preservation and Appreciation of Antique Motor Fire Apparatus in America (SPAAMFAA) 2023’s National Convention recently held in Warwick, the Johnston Fire Department and Local 1950 Association of Firefighters were in the spotlight.

JFD Chief David Iannuccilli and former Chief Alan Zambarano accepted SPAAMFAA’s prestigious National Preservation Award from Richard Quetta, a North Providence resident and president of the Rhode Island Antique Fire Apparatus Society that hosted the impressive four-day convention/muster that concluded with an awards banquet at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Warwick.

“We are thrilled for the Johnston Fire Department and Local 1950 Association of Firefighters,” Quetta said. “Johnston was one of three Rhode Island Departments that have fulfilled this task and kept firefighting history alive.”

It was the JFD’s extremely well-maintained 1936 Maxim Pumper that received the coveted national award that was graciously accepted by Iannuccilli and Zambarano as well as Local 1950’s Executive Board, headed by President Keith Calci, Vice President Jon Pistacchio, Secretary Joe Pingitore and members Don Roberts, Chris DelFino and Sal Martira.

“Thank you to SPAAMFAA and the Rhode Island Antique Fire Apparatus Society for this tremendous honor,” said Pistacchio. “Everyone in the JFD and Local 1950 really appreciates this nationally coveted honor.”

Moreover, Quetta said that many of the 275 registered guests who viewed all 108 antique fire trucks that were on display outside the Crowne Plaza Hotel and 200 people who attended the awards banquet were “tremendously impressed” with the JFD/Local 1950’s 1936 Maxim Pumper.

History has it that the Johnston Hose Company No. 1 ran the 1936 Maxim Model YASC-3 as an engine out of the Willow Street Station located in the Thornton section of town. It was placed in service in March of 1937 and served the Town of Johnston until it was taken out of service in October of 1973 when the department transitioned to a fully paid unit.

Engine 13 remained in reserve status for several years after which it was refurbished by the Johnston Volunteers and maintained by the late Johnston Hose 1 President Mike Placella and Zambarano.

Recently, last November in fact, the 1936 Maxim Pumper was gifted to the Johnston Firefighters Union Local 1950. The truck now serves the JFD and Local 1950 as their Honor Guard Truck and is also utilized for parades such as the JHS Homecoming, shows and even funerals.