Company History

Founded in 2005

2005-2009

Fire Line Equipment 2006

First Fire Line Equipment Website

The company was founded in June of 2005 by Tim Ashworth as a broker of used fire apparatus and firefighting equipment. Fire Line Equipment, LLC solely brokered used fire trucks and equipment for fire departments and used fire apparatus dealers in the US and Canada. The first website was published in early 2006 with the primary goal of providing used fire truck advertising to sellers and an inventory of quality used fire trucks to buyers. With the internet becoming flooded with used fire truck brokers that would advertise just about anything, Fire Line Equipment decided to take a different approach. We limited the amount of firefighting trucks we advertised, only offering for sale a small quantity of quality fire trucks owned by fire departments in the US and Canada. This kept the inventory manageable and allowed for personal service to both the seller and buyer.

2009-2011

First Fire Line Equipment Sign

First Fire Line Equipment Sign

In mid 2009 Tim Ashworth sold half of the company to Ron Fink with the intent of taking Fire Line Equipment to the next level. Plans were under way to grow the existing fire apparatus business. Up until now, Tim Ashworth had operated Fire Line Equipment from an office in Lititz, PA and had found buyers for several hundred used fire trucks. The apparatus were purchased by fire departments from all over the world.

Ron and Tim made the decision to expand upon the current business of used apparatus broker to a full apparatus service facility located in Central Pennsylvania. After a long search; a site in East Earl, Pa with a 5000 sq/ft repair shop become available that featured excellent customer access, ninety foot drive through bays and all within close proximity to needed sub contractors for diesel fuel and other truck related services. Move in day was set and the doors officially opened in July 2009 with our first service repair customer from the Concordville Fire Company coming in for aerial maintenance on their LTI ladder tower.

Ron and Tim both spent 25+ years at Ladder Towers, Inc (LTI) prior to coming together at Fire Line Equipment. Experience with the LTI aerial product, technical aspects, support, mobile service, ladder truck replacement parts, refurbishment and customer base were second nature. The immediate focus become aerial maintenance, repair and service but this quickly evolved to service and repair work on fire department owned pumpers, rescues, tankers and chassis’s.

Kory Hertzog Parts Department

Kory Hertzog Parts Department

Our first employee (Kory Hertzog) was hired in late 2009 to assist with the demand for replacement parts. Kory had spent the last 22 years in the fire truck manufacturing and service industry fulfilling apparatus replacement part orders. With the increase of maintenance and repair work going through the service shop, a knowledgeable fire truck “parts guru” was desperately needed to not only assist with the parts needs for the shop but to also fulfill customer orders that would be shipped out. Kory stepped right in and remains with the company today. UPS and Fed Ex are his best friends!

In addition to staffing our parts department, our first mobile “Road Technician” was hired. We selected Shawn Smith who brought 18 years of fire truck experience to the plate. Shawn had traveled the country for an apparatus manufacturer performing maintenance and repairs on customer owned fire trucks that the builder had sold. Later in his career with the builder, Shawn was part of a technical support team that assisted customers and dealers from all over the world that were in need of hydraulic and electrical trouble shooting expertise. Shawn’s first “Mobile Service Truck” was a 2008 Ford E-250 Van that Tim and Ron purchased used from a pre-owned dealer. It was in great condition and had very low mileage. The new mobile service truck was lettered and striped, outfitted with tool box, tools and parts and sent on its way. Shawn has traveled as far south as Alabama and north to New Hampshire servicing and repairing all makes and models of fire trucks, aerials and fire pumps.

Fire Line Equipment Growth

Fire Line Equipment Shop

By the end of 2010, Fire Line Equipment had added two additional service technicians. Steve Boley with 29 years of fire truck maintenance and repair experience and Tim Sweigart with 22 years of fire apparatus build and repair experience. Both Steve and Tim are Certified Emergency Vehicle Technicians (EVT) with expertise in steel and aluminum welding, hydraulics, electrical, fire pumps and component trouble shooting. Both Steve and Tim remain with the company contributing daily to the overall success of Fire Line Equipment.

2010 also brought the launch of a second web site: www.fleservice.com that caters to our service and parts customers. The new web site grew quickly and the decision was made to add an on-line store for fire truck parts. Apparatus parts and accessories can be purchased on our secure site via credit card through PayPal processing. The Fire Line Store is stocked with pump, ladder, body and chassis replacement parts.

The company continued to grow in 2011 and additional shop and parts storage space would be needed. The decision was made to lease additional space within the current building, essentially doubling our current square footage. The new addition would house our parts warehouse, shipping and receiving; and provide additional shop area for the service shop with a second ninety foot drive through bay.

Kathy Brandt Accounting

Kathy Brandt – Accounting

All of the growth bought the need for a team player to head up our accounting side. Up until now most of the accounting functions were handled off site with the exception of the repair and sales invoicing. With the ever increasing amount used fire trucks, repair quotes, service work and fire truck part sales; it became very obvious that this addition to the staff needed to happen ASAP.

Kathy Brandt took over our accounting operations handling our A/P, A/R and payroll. She came to Fire Line Equipment knowing that not all fire trucks are red. Kathy spent 23 years processing the A/R, A/P and payroll at a factory that produced fire trucks for customers worldwide.

E-ONE Fire Apparatus

By the middle of 2011 we were in conversation with several manufacturers regarding carrying their product line. E-ONE, Seagrave, Ferrara, Smeal, American LaFrance all came to plate with an offering. In the end we decided to align with E-ONE out of Ocala, Florida due their solid financial standing, vast product offering, excellent product design, expert product support and available territory. Although we had not signed the deal yet, E-ONE and Fire Line Equipment announced our intentions at the 2011 Harrisburg Fire Expo.

An additional Service Technician was hired to assist with the new E-ONE product offering. The new service tech came on board and brought his 23 years of fire truck repair and manufacturing experience to Fire Line Equipment. He would be doing a split duty of apparatus repairs in the shop and fire truck maintenance in the field. While employed at a major fire truck manufacturer he performed various hydraulic and electrical assembly and repairs. He spent some of career traveling the country performing preventive maintenance and delivery training on aerial devices.

Service Truck 2

Mobile Lube Skid – Service Truck 2

A second mobile service truck was purchased. At the time our one and only mobile service van was traveling up and down the east coast performing routine maintenance and repair work. A new 2011 Ford F450 with a Reading service body was located, purchased, sent out for lettering, outfitted with tools and made available for local routine and emergency service needs. In addition to the truck and equipment we purchased a mobile lube skid unit the can be used both at customer fire stations and in the service shop for lube services. The self contained unit carries motor oil, transmission fluids, antifreeze, hydraulic fluid and 80/90w fluid. A seventy gallon waste oil tank on the skid allows fluids to be recovered and transported back to Fire Line Equipment for proper disposal.

2012-2015

Fire Line Equipment Service Shop

Fire Line Equipment Service Shop

Used Fire Trucks For Sale

Used Fire Truck Sales

2012 has brought more expansion with three additional employees, new office construction, new customers, more challenges, and a whole lot of excitement!

Mike Jamison and Barry Charles were hired early in 2012 and Nadine Porman came onboard later in the year. All three have extensive knowledge of the fire industry and are an excellent addition to our already seasoned professional staff.

Mike joined our team in January as the Apparatus Sales Manager for the new E-ONE product line. In addition, Mike will be out and about within our territory promoting our service, parts and used truck sales efforts. He began his career 1985 at a fire truck manufacturing assembly and refurb plant in Ephrata Pennsylvania. Throughout his employment Mike worked in several different areas of the company gaining product knowledge and valuable hands on sales and management experience. As a Regional Sales Manager, Mike was responsible for several sales dealers and service centers on the east coast of the United States. Mike has also given back to the community as a volunteer firefighter for Lafayette Fire Company in Lancaster County for 14 years.

Barry Charles started with us in May as a Service Technician after spending 21 years in the fire truck manufacturing, repair and training business. He has worked in positions that have required extensive hydraulic and electrical trouble shooting abilities in order to diagnose problems related to a truck’s chassis, body, pump and aerial. Barry has spent time face to face with many of our customers while completing delivery training on their new aerial device.

Nadine came to Fire Line Equipment with an extensive background in fire truck replacement parts and used fire trucks. She is a volunteer firefighter and engineer at the Rohrerstown Fire Company in Rohrerstown, Pennsylvania.

With Mike, Barry and Nadine coming on board, Fire Line Equipment now has a staff of one part time and nine full time employees.

On Line Store For Fire Truck Parts

The Fire Line Store

The Fire Line Store

In 2013 Fire Line Equipment had redesigned its website adding some additional functions like eCommerce. Our fire truck parts business was growing to the point that we are shipping parts to fire departments from all over the country. Little did we know that we would be the first company to market fire truck parts in an eCommerce platform. The Fire Line Store took some time to gain traction but has become a valuable resource to our customers. Today we operate two on line fire truck part stores: www.firelineequipment.com/fire-truck-parts and www.buyfiretruckparts.com

Kelly Saylor Operations Manager

Kelly Saylor – Operations Manager

Kelly Saylor joined the Fire Line Equipment team in 2013 as the Operations Manager. Kelly came to Fire Line Equipment with 25+ years of experience in the fire apparatus manufacturing industry. He is a volunteer firefighter with Penryn Fire Company in Penryn , PA.

Kelly’s responsibilities as the operations manager include overseeing the parts, service, mobile service and tech support departments.

10 Year Anniversary

10 Year Anniversary

In 2015 we celebrated 10 years in business. Happy Anniversary to us, Fire Line Equipment has dramatically changed since it’s first day in 2005!

2016-2020

Fire Line Equipment Ground Breaking

Fire Line Equipment – New Building

By the end of 2016 Fire Line Equipment begin discussions with three local commercial construction firms to quote and build our new facility. Land was purchased and after reviewing the builders specs we selected Hoover Building Specialists to construct our new service, parts and sales facility.

Fire Line Equipment, LLC began a new chapter in its history on Monday January 29, 2018 with a formal ground breaking ceremony for a new E-ONE sales, service, parts and used fire apparatus facility at 307 Twin Springs Court in New Holland, PA. The 21,500 square-foot building completed in approximately eight months. The building contains 12 fully equipped modern service bays, mobile truck lift columns, fire pump test pit, gantry crane, parts warehouse with centralized shipping and receiving, 12 management, sales and support offices, conference room and employee locker and break room. This new facility is central to FLE’s continued growth and commitment to our employees and customer base.

Cheryl Styer

Cheryl Styer – Customer Service

With the increase in business we decided to add our first Customer Service Representative in August of 2018. Our phone system at the time was automated with dial by number prompts. After a considerable amount of research we found that our customers preferred to speak with a human being rather than an auto attendant. Cheryl Styer was brought on board to be the first point of contact for our customers calling in and when visiting the facility.

Contact Michelle Ashworth

Michelle Ashworth – Human Resources

As the number of Fire Line Equipment employees grew, Michelle Ashworth was hired in 2018 to head up our Human Resource Department. Michelle handles all of the employee recruiting, new employee hires, state & federal employment guidelines, employee retention and health care / wellness benefit administration.

Open House

New Facility Ribbon Cutting

Open For Business!

With construction completed we set our Grand Opening – Open House date for September 29, 2018. The open house was a huge success with many industry vendors and fire companies in attendance. We ended the day with a full catered meal for those that decided to stay. Throughout the day multiple door prizes were given away to both fire companies and individuals in attendance.

Acela Truck Company

Acela Truck Company

In 2019 Fire Line Equipment entered in an agreement with Acela Truck Company to represent Acela in the Northeast. Acela Truck Company has developed a tried-and-true way to bring military-grade vehicles to the commercial market and to provide military-grade truck chassis to commercial and government markets at a fraction of the cost of less capable products. Acela Truck Company has over 100 years of combined experience in the automotive and transportation industries. We’re backed by more than a century of solution-oriented thinking that’s motivated by a desire to increase productivity and keep you moving both on and off-highway.

Better Call Bob

Used Emergency Vehicles

In late 2019, Fire Line Equipment induced you to “Better Call Bob“. Bob Bainbridge heads up the used apparatus sales at Fire Line Equipment. Bob handles all of the used apparatus that we broker as well as the used trucks we buy and sell.

The name started out as some humor from watching a popular TV show. The name began to stick and customers began calling in asking for Better Call Bob, they would laugh, we would laugh and then they actually talked to the real Bob. Today Better Call Bob has is own line of swag, can koozies and pens.

Better Call Bob – He Sells Trucks Fast – 877-346-1373

15 Year Anniversary

In 2020 Fire Line Equipment celebrated its 15th year in business!

2021-2022

Weis Fire Apparatus

Weis Fire & Safety

In April of 2021 Weis Fire & Safety and Fire Line Equipment entered into an agreement for Brush Truck sales within the State of Pennsylvania.

Weis Fire & Safety Equipment is one of America’s leading fire equipment companies. At Weis Fire & Safety, they manufacture top-of-the-line fire rescue trucks — but they don’t consider their job finished at the end of the production line. They are with their customers every step of the way, from demonstrations and sales to training. With over 50 years dedicated to the fire-fighting industry, they have gained the trust of fire departments worldwide.

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