On Saturday July 12th, The PA Pump Primers held their 39th Annual Pump Primers Muster along River Front Park in the City of Harrisburg. The weather was perfect and the antique fire apparatus were spectacular!

The PA Pump Primers is the Central PA Chapter of the SOCIETY for the PRESERVATION & APPRECIATION of ANTIQUE MOTOR FIRE APPARATUS in AMERICA or SPAAMFAA for short. SPAAMFAA is an organization of over three thousand members and over fifty Chapters organized in 1958 in Syracuse, NY. The membership is located all over the globe, but primarily in the United States and ownership of an antique piece of fire apparatus is not a requirement of membership. The Pennsylvania Pump Primers Association (PPP) is an organization of antique fire apparatus enthusiasts, many of whom own, drive, maintain and improve their own fire trucks and related vehicles and equipment. The PPP was founded in Harrisburg in 1975 and in the following year it became the Central Pennsylvania Chapter of the SPAAMFAA. Each July the Pennsylvania Pump Primers holds a Show and Muster in Harrisburg PA, along the banks of the Susquehanna River in Riverfront Park in an awesome display of history and technology that span the decades of the fire service. Over the years the muster has drawn an average of 100 pieces of antique apparatus that participate in activities including static display and active drafting and pumping from the river. The muster also features an extensive flea market and fire related contests and games which include a bracket, fastest water and booster contest, barrel spin, bucket brigade and the barrel bust competition.

The antique fire apparatus meet typically at the Farm Show Complex on Cameron Street and then parade down with lights and sirens along Maclay and Front Street until the motorcade reaches the point where those apparatus that are drafting from the river break off and continue down the river walk portion of the route. Spectators gather starting around the Market Street Bridge to watch the motorcade parade through the city on Front Street, and then switch over to watching the river walk convoy continue to their destination. Once there, they drop their suction lines into the river and by means of deck guns, ground monitors or adapted hose lines begin to shoot water back into the river. It surely is a sight to see.

When not admiring the pieces that are pumping, you may rejoin the first half of the parade that are now staged along the walking area on Front Street and get an up close view of fire history. Many vendors from around the state are also there with truck loads worth of antique fire service memorabilia for sale. It’s easy to lose yourself in the rich history that is presenting itself for all who attend.