Conversations with Ron & Beth Harris

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ron & Beth Harris

Hi Ron & Beth, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
How exciting to receive your email regarding our story. I am not a writer but will do my best to answer your questions hoping your editing skills will make me look like one.

In opening, my story is a story of love at first sight. I fell in love with the lines and era of this 1979 Seagrave fire engine, and I fell in love with the idea of owning a symbol of giving, a piece of history. I’m sure it was also my reverence for first responders. I’m so grateful for and appreciate their sacrifices and commitment to the community. I also completely underestimated the general publics appreciation for first responders as well. Each time I take Engine 60 out I see it. I am constantly thanked for my service. I regularly have to inform others I was never a fire fighter, I just own the truck. First responders, you are loved and appreciated, and you should know it.

1. How did you acquire Engine 60 and how long have you had it?

My brother, Randy and I have always had an appreciation of old or unique vehicles and he was looking to purchase something to commemorate his 60th birthday as a present to himself. He looked at various classics and hot rods, also thought maybe a military vehicle of some kind would be cool. I happened to find the fire truck for sale in Appleton, Wisconsin while searching the Internet and sent it to him. Discovering shipping costs put the purchase out of budget, the previous owner convinced us to drive it to Phoenix from Appleton. It was fun for about an hour then it set in…fire trucks are industrial art, industrial engineering…fire trucks are not built for comfort. Rather they are all about functionality and transporting gear. Everything has a purpose, and everything has a place or a reason to be where it is. It was a very long trip…like driving a tractor 37 hours straight at top speed of 55mph. Lets just say, it was a bonding experience in a trip we hope to never repeat. My wife and I then purchased the truck from my brother the following year and changed its name. We wanted a name that represented Arizona, so went to the Hall of Flame Fire Museum here in Phoenix for ideas and eventually came up with Camelback Fire Department, Engine 60 to honor my brother’s 60th birthday.

2. What inspired you to use Engine 60 for special events and how did you get started with parties and photo shoots?

Early on I noticed whenever I would take the truck out, people wanted to take pictures of it, and have their photo taken with it. They wanted to know all about it, it’s history and seemed to really enjoy it. But, after taking it to my fathers assisted living home in Paradise Valley and watching how much fun the residents were having made me heart smile. They all wanted their picture taken while donning a fire helmet and jacket to send to friends and relatives. They then began singing a camp song about a fire truck from their youth that I had never heard of, it was a magical moment and left me inspired to do more with it. At the time I only had a few helmets and one jacket that came with the truck, so they took turns until one resident wouldn’t take it off so I set a goal to acquire more. Parties simply began by requests from meeting people while out and about with the truck. Often, my wife and I would drive it out for breakfast or lunch in the area and began to receive requests to attend events and parties.

3. How many events do you do each year, what’s your favorite season?

My daughter insisted Camelback Fire Dept have it’s own Instagram page, and started one for us @camelbackfire, and since it’s launch has taken over our lives. We have lost count of all the events we have done and are constantly amazed at the imaginative personal requests we receive. What started out as a fun side hobby has become much more, all generated by the public’s desire to share in the fun and appreciation for what the fire department represents, it’s truly heart warming.

We have done countless kids and adults birthday parties, numerous Arcadia picnics and 4th of July parades, store grand openings, children’s indoor play centers, preschools, gender reveal parties, Mother and Fathers Day drive-by’s, restaurant/bar photo op visits, local morning TV shows, bubble parties and foam parties with our commercial foam cannon are a real hoot. We also decorate Engine 60 for most holidays, July 4th with flags, bunting and Statue of Liberty on the back. For Halloween, 30 Skeletons in fire outfits hanging all over the truck doing mischievous things stops traffic when we drive, seems no one wants to pass they just want to film us. But Santa and reindeer for Christmas bring the most smiles, waves and honking of horns by far.

4. What are some of your best memories with Engine 60?

It’s hard to choose, but arriving at my father’s assisted living home for the first time to see six people in wheel chairs waiting for me out front ranks up there. Next would be the road trip with my brother driving from Appleton to Phoenix. In Dubuque, Iowa we stopped to refuel in the middle of the night and get a bite to eat. Upon starting to depart we realized we had no headlights. We were able to determine it was a bad headlight switch, but had no tools with which to unplug the wires from the back of the bad switch. After fiddling with the wires too much, they accidentally pulled out of the back of the plug instead of the plug coming off the switch. In desperation our only remedy to hold the bare wires into the new switch was to hold them in place with band-aids as tape (MacGyver style) for the rest of the trip home.

5. How do you use Engine 60 during the holidays? What has the neighborhood reaction been?

We do Christmas party photo sessions during the holidays. We bring Engine 60, all lit up with Santa and 5 reindeer. We supply ring lights for great photos, fire jackets and helmets for kid and adults, along with various other Christmas themed props for fun photos as well as Christmas music. We have wonderful neighbors who seem to enjoy our various decorations through the year. If anyone doesn’t care for it, we haven’t heard.

6. What do you hope locals get out of their experience with Engine 60?

My daughter expressed to me once that I was “serious about having fun”, and I guess that is appropriate. Camelback Fire Dept is all about joy and fun, smiles and friendship, tidings and good cheer. We think you can never have too much of that.

7. What is your future plans for Engine 60?

In some respects it seems we’ve only just begun. The public has driven this endeavour from the beginning, all we do is listen to how they wish to enjoy this truck and expand on those requests, at the same time interject our personality and creativity into the mix. One of our goals this year is to launch our own Camelback Fire t-shirt line to sell at events also.

8. Anything else you’d like the community to know?

That we are truly grateful and honored to be trusted each time we are asked to show up and bring good cheer, and we hope Camelback Fire Dept can make each event more fun.

I hope my answers allow you to create a story you enjoy, if you wish to discuss or have me clarify anything please call, Thanks Ron Harris 480-390-3385
On 28 Nov 2023, at 23:07, Rachael Bouley rachaelsbouley@gmail.com wrote:

Hi Ron and Beth,

Hope all is well. For our next issue of Arcadia News, we would love to do a story on the Camelback 60 firetruck and all the awesome things you do with it!

I’ve included some questions for you below if you would like to answer, that would be great. And I’m sure you have some cool photos so we would be happy to include a few, too. 😊
• How did you acquire the Camelback 60 Firetruck and how long have you had it for?
• What inspired you to use the truck for special events? How did you get started with parties and photo shoots?
• How many events do you cover a year – what’s your favorite season?
• What are some of your best memories with the truck?
• How do you use the firetruck during the holidays?
• What has the neighborhood reaction been?
• What do you hope locals get out of their experience with Camelback 60?
• What are your future plans for Camelback 60?
• Anything else you’d like the community to know?
Thank you so much in advance for your time. We are really looking forward to sharing this story!

Kind regards,
Rachael Bouley

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Our careers have been logistics focused up to this point. We are very good at the hardware side of buisness. We do find it challenging to navigate social media and marketing.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://camelbackfire.com
• Instagram: @camelbackfire