This Jeep FC-170 mini-pumper was originally built by Valley Fire Truck of Bay City, Michigan for the Otisville Fire Department, also in Michigan. As of 2024 the truck is under restoration in a private collection in Houston.
Valley added pump and roll capability with a Briggs & Stratton engine powering a secondary pump, supplying two booster reels.
Valley Fire Truck apparently built only five FC conversions, with 500 GPM Darley pumps and 200-gallon tanks. This factory photo of their standard configuration was used in some of their advertising (150K JPEG). See also the rear view (70K JPEG).
A couple of the Valley FCs were given the two booster reels and a front platform where firefighters could stand to attack grass fires while the truck was rolling.
One of the two was restored in the early 2000s, at which time the railing on the front was removed.
Soon after the truck arrived in Houston in September 2024, the cab paint responded beautifully to a buffing. This photo shows the paint in comparison to the roof which has not yet been buffed.
The cab interior is perfect and has rare original upholstery on the seats.
In addition to the standard controls for the Darley pump, the side panel includes an output valve for the auxiliary booster pump.
An undated photo of the truck in service in Otisville MI, at what appears to be a truck fire, shows the "OFD" lettering that will be reapplied to the cab doors as part of the restoration. The ladder and hand lantern certainly indicate that the truck was not used exclusively for brush fires.
The truck reportedly was in service in Otisville until the mid 1980s, and was then sold to a company that had a waste dump where OFD was always responding to fires.
Thanks to Forest Township Fire Department in Otisville MI. -- Derek Redmond
See another Valley FC, Wilkes-Barre Pumper 4.
See more Forward Control Fire Engines.
See also a Champion Willys pickup truck conversion by Valley Fire Truck Co.
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