On Saturday December 8, 2012, Engine 38 had a hard day of driving Santa around Caln Township and participating in the annual Downingtown Christmas Parade. Since the apparatus had been running all day, it was in desperate need of fuel so the crews decided to get fuel while they were out returning from the parade. As Engine 38 was traveling up the Golf Course Hill on the Route 30 Bypass, it appeared the engine was loosing power and white smoke was pouring out of the exhaust pipe. The crew was able to limp Engine 38 safely off the roadway into the parking lot of the PennDOT Shed at Reeceville Road to wait for tow truck. Engine 38 was towed back to the fire station until the next day where it had to be towed to Penn Diesel just above Reading. After several days the verdict came that the engine needed to be torn down and the block needs to be re-sleeved. This meant Engine 38 had to be out of service until after the New Year.

Between Chief Don Taylor, SLS Ray Stackhouse, Fire Marshal Steve Miller, Caln Township, Downingtown Boro, Chief Gregg Nelms and the Downingtown Fire Department, arrangements were made for Thorndale to borrow Engine 46-1 (Minquas) while Engine 38 is being repaired.

On Saturday December 15th, Engine 46-1 was arrived at Thorndale at 11:00 am. There was an emergency training session for the available drivers and firefighters to attend. Fire Marshal Miller conducted this training. At 3:00 pm that day Engine 46-1 was placed into service as Engine 38. In the following days Fire Marshal Miller met up with anyone who missed the Saturday training and got them qualified on the engine.

The Officers and Emergency Responders of the Thorndale Fire Company as well as the Caln Township Officials are grateful to the Downingtown Fire Department, the Minquas Fire Company and Downingtown Borough for their generosity in our time of need.

What does this mean for the residents of Caln Township? Well you may see a red fire engine pulling up to your emergency instead of a white one. Rest assured your fire company will be there to handle your needs no matter what color the fire engine is.

Once again the members of the Thorndale Fire Company would like to thank everyone involved in making this transfer happen and allowing us to continue to serve the residences and businesses of our township without interruption.