JOHOR BARU: This year’s state-level Hari Bomba celebration will be extra special with eight antique fire engines belonging to the Johor Ruler to be displayed.
The fire engines, the biggest such private collection in the country, were refurbished and restored in Britain and will be shown to the public at Persada tomorrow.
Some of the engines were used by the Johor Fire Brigade, which was previously based at the Jalan Sungai Seget fire station.
Sultan Ibrahim ibni Almarhum Sultan Iskandar said all eight fire engines were in working condition.
“Johor was the first state to have an organised fire brigade those days.
“Some of these fire engines are part of the state’s history and I want it preserved,” said Sultan Ibrahim, an avid collector of luxury motorcycles, trucks and planes, in an interview.
He said he has a collection of 10 fire engines, adding that the two other restored ones had yet to arrive from London.
The Ruler said he inherited some of the fire engines from his late grandfather and decided to refurbish them to their original state.
“Once they were done up, I liked it so much that I decided to buy several more fire engines from London which were up for sale.
“These fire engines were also used for rescue and fire fighting there.
“Everything is in working order including the pumps, hoses, wheels and ladders,” he added.
The fire engines to be on display will be two Dennis RR-B80, two Ford Thames water tenders, a Mercedes Turntable Ladder, a Dennis F108, Dennis F31 pump escape and Dennis Camiva F127 Turntable Ladder.
Source : The Star
