Sunshine smiles on fire truck show

Newton — Fire truck fans checked out the vehicles mustered at the Sussex County Fire Training Academy in Newton on Sunday. “We ordered this weather years ago and it finally arrived,” said co-organizer Steve Raye of Wantage, of the beautiful, sunny weather. Seven trucks were on display along and a DJ was there, too, for entertainment. Food was served hot off the grill. A 1963 Seagrave pumper truck belonging to Cyrus Mathews of Hackettstown was the largest vehicle. “I have had it for about three years,” said Mathews. “I am trying to restore it little by little to the condition it was originally delivered.” This is not his first fire truck. A previous vehicle, a 1954 LaFrance truck, was so prone to mechanical failure that his wife made him sell it. “She felt bad, started looking and found this,” said Mathews, gesturing toward the Seagrave. He had a garage built alongside his house large enough for the truck, parts storage and a work area. Wanting to show off his vehicle he took it to a local car show. “People asked why I brought a fire truck to a car show,” said Mathews. “I said 'some people like Mustangs, I like fire trucks.” Brenden Mathews, 2, was happy to climb on daddy’s fire truck but declined an interview.