Historic fire truck gets new home

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Big Red. Not the chewing gum, but a historic fire truck.

It was Wilmington’s second aerial fire truck. Kamal Mansour bought the truck years ago, because he said he always wanted to own a hook and ladder fire truck. He said he planned to restore it and have a little fun around town with it. When he realized he wouldn’t have the time required to restore the truck the way he wanted to, Mansour decided to donate it to the Wilmington Fire Historical Society. Mansour says he couldn’t be happier to see this happening.

“I’m so happy it’s unreal,” Mansour said. “If I had to carry it by hand to bring it here I would have, because I know the dedication of the Wilmington Fire Department is unsurpassed. I know they will take their time and restore it back to the way it was when they had it.”

The truck was put into service in 1963. The goal is to have the truck displayed in a museum.