There are some good stories of large fire departments with lots of Jeeps in their fleets, including the CJ-3Bs and CJ-5s of the Baltimore County FD in Maryland, and the Forward Control trucks in Chicago. But the five Willys Jeeps making up fully half of the roster of California's La Habra Heights VFD in 1972 may be unique.
In the years after World War II the Department purchased three Jeeps which people apparently referred to as military surplus, although they can be seen in the 1953 photo below to have been two CJ-2As and a CJ-3A. They're joined by a 1941 International pumper, which was war surplus.
Rather than "factory" fire Jeeps converted for Willys by Howe or Boyer, these were stock flatfenders modified locally by Roy Termain’s Garage, to plans drawn up by Chief Edgar Trefry. He came up with the idea of water tanks in both the front and rear of each Jeep, helping to balance the significant weight. The little Go-Devil engines would have had to work hard on the hills, but Joan Klopfenstein, a dispatcher for the Department for 43 years, is quoted as saying, “Those Jeeps could go anywhere!” Some of the volunteers referred to them as "mountain goats."
The 1953 photo originally appeared in The Hacienda Courier newspaper on 29 October 1953. It was colorized by author Dan Stracner for his two-part "History of the La Habra Heights VFD" in the February and March 2023 issues of Heights Life magazine.
A pump and booster reel in the rear provided pump and roll capability, although one-man operation looks a bit risky. La Habra Heights, a canyon suburb in Los Angeles County, has plenty of potential for brush and grass fires, particularly in the Puente Hills in the northern part of the community. Six firefighters lost their lives fighting the Hacienda Fire in 1955, and are recognized on a memorial outside City Hall.
As the 1950s progressed, La Habra Heights added another CJ-3A, a CJ-3B, and finally a CJ-5. All of the Jeeps received the same double water tank treatment. By the time the photo above was taken in 1972, one of the 2As apparently had been retired from regular service. Chief Virgil Fouts is in the foreground with his 1966 El Camino. This fabulous photo was also colorized by Dan Stracner and appeared on the front cover (450K JPEG) of the February 2023 Heights Life magazine.
This side view of the CJ-2A gives a slightly better look at the pump in the rear, but I don't recognize the type of pump.
The Department became well known for its unique fleet of Jeeps, and one of the CJ-2As appeared on this mailbox sticker which was given to residents who donated to the Department. It also showed up on a uniform patch (70K JPEG).
As 2026 the La of Habra Heights VFD has kept the 1962 CJ-5 on the roster as Patrol 10. The water tanks have been removed and the front bumper moved back. Thanks to Randy Johanson for this photo, taken in 2018.
Cody Hensen in Montana says, "My family purchased this 1947 Willys from La Habra Heights in 1968 or 1969 and towed it to our ranch in Montana where it has been ever since. Can still read the name on the back." (260K JPEG)
The serial number (260K JPEG) confirms it's a 1947 CJ-2A. Thanks to Cody for the photos.
The little "mountain goats" have been remembered in Dan Stracner's article in the February and March 2023 issues of Heights Life, available for download from the website of the La Habra Heights Improvement Association.
Thanks to James Tully for pointing me to the article, and to Dan Stracner and Heights Life for publishing it. -- Derek Redmond
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