In 2000, veteran Long Island volunteer firefighter Chris Steel had a simple dream: He wanted to create the ultimate bar-out of a fire truck. He searched high and low for a rig that would fit the bill. A year went by and then one day, while driving along the back roads of Suffolk County’s east end, Steel came upon a farm in Brookhaven where he spotted an old fire truck-a 1963 International 190 Young Fire Apparatus, which he later found out once served as Engine 7 for the Brookhaven Fire Department. It was a beauty!
A week later, Steel returned to the farm and talked to the farmer (who happened to be a commissioner of the Brookhaven Fire District). The farmer eventually agreed to sell Steel the old truck, but upon his return a few weeks later, Steel discovered that, to his horror, the farm had been sold. Undeterred, Steel introduced himself to the new owner and explained the arrangement he had made with the former owner. Luckily, the new owner honored the deal Steel had made so without further hesitation, he bought the old rig for $500.
Once Steel brought the truck home, he gathered a few good friends and family members together and, after a couple weeks of hard work, completely gutted the truck of its vital parts: the entire cab, the driver’s side pump panel, the side cabinets, lights, the siren, chrome rails, etc.
With help from an experienced hand, Steel then began the task of reassembling the cab and truck in the basement of his home. He began by cutting the cab into four pieces. He then welded and bonded and painted each part until one day, the parts finally took shape, and there was a shiny “new” fire truck parked in his basement, complete with re-chromed features, new diamond plating and a “new” pump panel that included almost all the original gates and gauges.
But Steel didn’t stop there; rebuilding the truck was only half the battle. He had a custom bar top made, as well as cabinets for behind the bar; he did all the electrical work for the lights and sirens; and along with his best friend, he laid out the pump panel and figured out how to put it all together on a wooden bar frame. Steel’s brother-in-law also created a brand-new button tuft interior for the cab.
To create the perfect “dream bar” atmosphere, Steel hung several fire-related products that he’s collected over the years around the area, such as a pull box that still has a telephone in it and several patches he’s received from friends and local fire departments. He also had the rig’s original ladder restored and hung on the back wall of the bar. He preserved the engine’s original number, Engine 7, but renamed the rig after his department-the Steel Fire Department. And leaving nothing to waste, Steel turned some of the engine’s old gauges into coasters, which now sit on the bar.
It took 5 long years and about $15,000, but by spring 2006, the bar was finished. To celebrate, Steel threw a “grand opening” party on Labor Day weekend. The bar was a hit.
Note: According to Steel, the one question people ask him the most is “What does your wife think about this?” He says his wife and children were very supportive throughout the whole process, in case you were wondering.
