1972 - 1968* Ward La France with 1000 gpm pump: It was Station 08's pumper originally, before it was refurbished and assigned to 68's. It featured a 5 speed manual transmission and a Cummin's diesel motor. This was unique as all the other Ward Lafrances delivered up to that time has come with Detroit diesel motors.

*(or possibly later model)


1979 - American La France Century with 50’ tele-squrt: Received new to Station 68 and 1 of about 8 identical apparatus that were purchased and assigned to areas with large numbers of apartment complexes. On more than one occasion the use of the 50’ tele-squrt saved adjoining apartment buildings in SW Houston. This apparatus, rusting badly due to the materials it was made from, was informally refurbed in house by the members of Station 68 with the assistance of fleet maintenance personnel adding many years of service. This apparatus remained frontline as Engine 68 before being replaced after years of hard running.

 

1994 - Pierce Dash pumper: Received new at Station 68, this pumper was part of an order of 9 identical apparatus and were the first Pierce Manufacturing apparatus bought by the City of Houston. These apparatus differed from others in that they had 750 gallon booster tanks in place of the standard 500 gallon booster tanks. Also unique, and somewhat of a hindrance, was the design of the pump panel area which provided only 2 pre-connected cross-lay attack lines. Considered to be the smoothest riding apparatus in HFD since the ’82 Pirsch pumpers, these apparatus were notoriously slow from a stand still and were very hard on rear suspensions as evidenced by the numerous rear leaf spring replacements. This apparatus, well taken care of by the crews, was replaced a mere 3 years later in an effort to maximize the life of it by re-assigning it to a slower Engine Company.

 

1997  - Spartan/Quality pumper: Received new to Station 68 and 1 of an order of 19 identical apparatus built on top of a hill in Talladega, Alabama. These apparatus, considered to be the fastest pumpers in HFD up to that time, were extremely quick from a stop and considerably shorter than earlier HFD pumpers. Partly due to the return to 500 gallon booster tanks, these pumpers were considerably shorter than their predecessors which made them a perfect fit for SW Houston and the many, many apartment complexes. It was not uncommon at all when dispatched 4^th due on a box to arrive ahead of the other Engine Co.’s given the overall engine advantage these pumpers possessed under the cab.

 

2000 - E-One Cyclone II pumper: This is the Fire Station 68's current Fire Engine. Fire Engine 68 is a 2000 E-One Cyclone II Engine Pumper. It was recieved as part of a multi-year order from Emergency-One Apparatus, out of Ocala, Flordia. HFD had contracted with E-One for 64 Engine Pumpers.

These pumpers were a first for the HFD as they were made entirely of extruded aluminum, cab and body. The apparatus, slowed down in the horse power department by lessons learned from the 1997 Spartan/Quality pumpers, featured 2 pre-connected cross-lay attack lines, Class “A” and Class “B” foam internal pump systems, raised roof cabs, and large, rescue style compartments. Some firsts for HFD pumpers were also part of these pumpers as they each have their own PTO generator and in-cab EMS compartments.

After being rear-ended in a serious MVA while sitting still at a traffic light, this apparatus had the distinction of being the first of five HFD E-One Cyclone Engine Pumpers to be retro-fitted with a Compressed Air Foam System (CAFS). These self contained units had separate diesel engines that powered the air compressor and added 900lb’s to the apparatus GVWR. After many adjustments, adding a separate fuel pump, providing more cooling capability and getting it just right, the CAFS system was removed and the apparatus returned to it original configuration.

This apparatus was retired from service as Engine 68 with over 100,000 miles on the odometer. It has been refurbished and given a new life as Engine 77.