This fire truck was seen during the November 21, 2015 Mother Goose Parade on Main Street in El Cajon.
Squibob is a part of the E Vitus Clampus organization in Southern California. It's webpage (
visit link) has additional photos and informs us about the vehicle:
"The Squibob Fire Brigade consists of chapter redshirts that volunteer their time, resources, and expertise to help restore and maintain our chapter's vintage 1942 Seagrave fire engine. Representing John P. Squibob Chapter #1853 and the Ancient and Honorable Order of E Clampus Vitus®, they accompany the fire engine in parades and other community events throughout greater San Diego.
When not in use, the fire truck is stored at the Regional Public Safety Training Institute, 4347 North Harbor Drive, San Diego (just west of Terminal 2 at San Diego Lindbergh Field. It is there that Squibob Fire Brigade volunteeers meet to wash, polish and spiff up the ol' gal before each parade. Unless otherwise noted in instructions sent out by the Parade Organator, volunteers meet two hours prior to departure for the parade marshalling area, in order to allow time for the necessary prep activities under the direction of the Clamp Combustioneer or his designated asssitant(s)...
Our Seagrave pumper was delivered new to the San Diego Fire Department in 1942 and served faithfully for over 20 years as a front-line unit. Following its removal from front-line duty, it remained in the SDFD reserve fleet for several more years and was used primarily as a training engine for recruits and probationary firefighers. In fact, our longtime Clamp Combustioner, R.C. Stevens, checked the original SDFD fleet information plate still attached to the dash of the engine and recognized this as the engine that he trained on when he first joined SDFD "many years ago".
After being retired from service, the fire engine was put up for sale by the City of San Diego as surplus property. It was then that Squibob Chapter members Chuck Van Rickley (XNGH, 1980) and Gene Calman (XNGH, 1970) led the effort to purchase the unit with the intent of using it for local parades and other events to promote the chapter. The fire engine has now been a part of the chapter for over four decades.
The truck is still powered by a massive V-12 Buick gasoline engine with dual ignition. The truck features an integrated transmission and water pump take-off common with many engines of the era. Over the years much of the wiring has been replaced throughout but much of the running gear is original equipment."
[Editor's Note: the Seagrave V12 was actually a Pierce Arrow engine, not a Buick. When Pierce Arrow ceased production in 1938, Seagrave was so enamored with the engine (they had been using it in their fire engines since about 1935) that it bought the rights and the tooling for the engine. With various modifications through the years, it remained in use in Seagrave fire engines until at least 1962.]