Palm Springs firefighters launch campaign to restore city’s first fire engine

The Palm Springs Firefighters Association has launched a fundraising drive to restore “El Diablo,” a 1931 American LaFrance engine that holds the distinction of being the city’s first fire truck.

Local 3601, the association behind the effort, is seeking $100,000 to cover the full cost of the restoration, hoping to get the important piece of city history back to running condition.

The firefighters are hoping to catch the public’s attention by pointing out the historical appeal of the project.

“Palm Springs has always been a community built on pride, resilience, and looking out for one another,” they wrote ont he fundraising page for the project. “And long before modern fire apparatus, advanced equipment, and today’s technology… there was one engine that helped protect this desert town when it was still growing into what we know today.”

Residents who wish to support the effort can find more information and donate directly through the campaign’s GoFundMe page here.

On a separate front, two new Enforcer Pumpers have arrived at the department ahead of schedule — one assigned to Station 1 in Downtown Palm Springs and one to Station 3.

The early delivery came about after the San Bernardino Fire Department cancelled its order for the equipment. Fire Chief Paul Alvarado said that without the cancellation, the wait could have extended to five years.

In the meantime, the Fire Foundation’s annual Easter egg hunt is set for March 29 at Ruth Hardy Park, 700 Tamarisk Rd.

The free event runs from 9 a.m. to noon, with the egg hunt beginning at 9 a.m. The day also includes pancakes, activities, and community programming. Organizers are encouraging attendees to arrive early and bring an egg basket.

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