Manassas Park Fire & Rescue Department – Apparatus Profile
By Mike Sanders

Engine 509 is a 2008 Pierce Enforcer and is one of two Pierce engines operated by Manassas Park. It was photographed at the 2008 Apple Blossom Festival in Winchester, Virginia.

Manassas Park is an independent city boarded by the City of Manassas and Prince William County. The fire department is an all career fire and rescue system providing fire and EMS services around the clock. The department operates a three platoon system with a total shift strength of eight personnel. Each shift has a Lieutenant, Sergeant, two Fire-Medics, and four firefighters. Leading the Manassas Park Fire and Rescue Department is Chief John O’Neal. The Deputy Fire Chief is Todd Lupton who is in charge of operations and Mark Joyner is a Fire Marshal Lieutenant.

Over the last handful of years the department has built upon its apparatus roster. Operating from one station, the apparatus line up includes two engines, a quint, two medic units, and a variety of support vehicles.

The newest addition to the Manassas Park apparatus roster is Medic 509-B, a 2009 Ford F450 built by PL Custom. This medic unit is joined by Medic 509-A, a 2003 Ford F450 built by Wheeled Coach.

Engine company operations are handled by two Pierce engines. Engine 509 is a 2008 Pierce Enforcer equipped with a 1500 gallon per minute pump, 750 gallons of water, and 40 gallons of foam. Engine 509-B is another Pierce, a 1996 Pierce Quantum model. It is equipped with a 1500/500 and 40 gallons of foam. The 2008 Pierce Enforcer replaced another Pierce, a 1988 Arrow four door engine.

Quint 509 is a multi-functional unit and the departments first aerial. Equipped with a 100′ aerial tower, the 2004 Pierce Dash is also equipped with a 2000 gallon per minute pump, 370 gallons of water, and carries 30 gallons of foam.

Other equipment operated by Manassas Park include a HAZMAT Support Trailer, a 2001 Jeep for the Deputy Chief, and a 2005 Chevrolet Tahoe for Chief 509. In addition, Utility 509 is a 1994 Ford F250 that was once a brush unit.

I have had the opportunity to photograph a variety of older equipment at Manassas Park. Two of my favorites include a 1971 Pirsch 1000/500 that ended up at Little Fork, Virginia after serving at Manassas Park and a beautiful open cab 1967 Seagrave 1000/500. An example of other interesting equipment once operated by Manassas Park include a early 1950′s open cab Ward LaFrance engine and a classic open cab 1950 Pirsch engine/squad 500/500 that originally served McLean, Virginia.

My thanks to Mark Baker who provided the photograph of the 1950 Pirsch and to Deputy Fire Chief Todd Lupton who provided information for this profile as well as the photograph of the departments newest medic unit, a 2009 Ford F450/P&L Custom.