Hundreds of fire trucks stored in Circleville

CIRCLEVILLE – If you drive down State Route 302 in Circleville, you may notice a large industrial building just south of the Rt. 17 interchange. What you won't notice though, are the many stories that exist inside the old reinforced concrete manufacturing plant – all 243 of them.

Each fire truck, fire engine, and rescue squad truck inside the 120,000 square-foot structure has a story to tell. Some were saved from salvage yards and wrecking machines, and given full restoration detail. Some are just being stored for local fire companies until they are needed for a parade or other events. Two of them, however, share a unique tale.

A 1981 Pirsch tiller ladder truck, originally from New Hampton, Pa., and a 1977 Mack CF pumper, originally from Hastings-on-Hudson, will be featured in a moving making its way to the states from Europe later this year, “The Accidental Husband,” a romantic comedy starring Uma Thurman and Jeffrey Dean Morgan.

Co-owner of the two apparatus, among about 50 others, Bruce Zarzeski, told the story to East Fishkill Fire District members during a tour of the makeshift museum this weekend.

"The ladder truck and the pumper being used for the film were sought after by the media company through mutual business partners of ours that recommended us, knew I had a collection of fire trucks, and knew I was affiliated with a larger group of fire trucks,” Zarzeksi said. “There were several opportunities for filming. Filming took place in Queens, New York, and a second location in Greenwich, Connecticut. It was quite an exciting opportunity for us. We enjoyed doing it."

The two apparatus were already refurbished, and just required new decals for their roles in the movie. The ladder truck became FDNY 99, and the pumper a Great Neck Fire Department truck. The movie is already playing in Europe, and is scheduled for release in the United States later this year, according to Zarzeski.

The owner of the eight-acre property and building, Andrew Leider, plans to turn the 243-apparatus warehouse into a full-fledged fire and rescue truck museum. A board of directors has recently been created for the entity, and they recently presented plans to the Town of Wallkill Planning Board regarding their ideas.

"We have been greeted with great enthusiasm by the town fathers," added Zarzeski, who was joined by other collectors for the tour. "This will eventually become a tourist attraction in the Orange County area. The plan is to make this a bona fide fire apparatus museum, probably the largest of its kind in the country."