A piece of Pierce Manufacturing history still stands ready for duty in the firehouse of a small Illinois town.
Located about two hours south of Chicago, Villa Grove, Illinois, is a small community where neighbors look out for one another and familiar faces line the streets during holiday parades.
“People here really care about each other,” said Chris Elston, Assistant Fire Chief at Villa Grove Fire & Rescue. “We take care of our own and take care of our community.”
However, one of the most beloved members of the Villa Grove community isn’t a person, but a 1986 Pierce Suburban Pumper: Engine 101. Nearly four decades after it first rolled into service, the truck is still in active duty. For Elston, Engine 101 is more than a fire truck, it’s part of the town’s identity.
“If this truck could talk, it would have stories to tell from every corner of town,” Chris said. 
A Passion for Firefighting and History
Chris grew up in Villa Grove and followed in the footsteps of his father, who once served as the department’s fire chief. Now, more than 20 years into his own firefighting career, he still relies on Engine 101, which had been responding to calls long before he joined the crew.
"I joined in 2002,” Chris said. “The truck was already 16 years old then and it’s still one of the trucks I operate today. It's so impressive.”
Along with firefighting, Chris also has a passion for history. When people around town started asking about Engine 101, he found himself digging into the truck’s past. In his search, Chris uncovered decades-old photos of Engine 101 fighting fires and at community events, as well as original Pierce advertisements for the Suburban Pumper model.
Built to Last
Built on a Ford commercial chassis and powered by a Caterpillar 3208 diesel engine, Engine 101 was designed for practicality and endurance rather than flash, according to Chris. After nearly forty years of service, it still carries its original engine, transmission, pump and even paint. “Outside of two quarter-sized rust spots, the truck is almost entirely original,” Chris said. “Same motor, same pump, same light bar — even the paint still shines up after all these years. It’s just one of those tried-and-true things.”
The Secret to Longevity
What’s the secret to keeping Engine 101 running strong? Chris credits a mix of good maintenance, solid craftsmanship and the realities of small-town life.
With a population of just under 3,000, Villa Grove Fire & Rescue responds to only a few calls each week, a pace far easier on equipment than what big-city departments experience.
But it’s not only light use keeping the 1986 Pierce Suburban Pumper in service. Its fully analog design means fewer things can go wrong. “It’s all levers and knobs, no computers,” Chris said. “While electronics make life easier in the modern world, the beauty of being analog is everything’s mechanical. If something stops working, it’s usually an easy fix.”
The department also takes maintenance seriously, handling routine checks in-house and performing annual pump testing. “Our pump test guy jokes with us — he tries to find something wrong with Engine 101 every year, but he can’t. It just won’t quit,” Chris said.
For Chris, the lesson is simple: “If you take care of your equipment, it’ll take care of you,” he said. “We wash it after every run, keep it clean and stay on top of maintenance. It’s the secret to keeping this Pierce going for so long.”
A Historic Moment: Engine 101 Powers the Big Boy
Some of Chris’s proudest moments as a firefighter involve Engine 101. One of his favorite memories is the day Union Pacific’s ‘Big Boy’ came through town.
In 2023, Union Pacific No. 4014, known as “Big Boy,” the world’s largest operating steam locomotive, made a stop in Villa Grove. Originally built in 1941 and restored to service in 2019 after decades of retirement, Big Boy now serves as a traveling tribute to the golden age of the railroad. During its visit, the historic train needed water to continue its journey, and Villa Grove Fire & Rescue stepped up to help.
Using Engine 101, firefighters pumped 52,000 gallons of water from a hydrant through nearly a block and a half of hose to refill the steam engine’s massive boiler and three tenders. The event drew nearly 15,000 visitors to the small town.
“It took about five hours, but Engine 101 handled it without a hitch,” Chris said. “It’s one of those moments where you realize how special this truck really is. We were part of something which brought all these communities and people together, and the old Pierce was right at the heart of it.”
Hometown Hero to Rising Social Media Star
The entire town of Villa Grove has embraced Engine 101 as one of its own. What started as a beloved hometown fire truck has now grown into something of a local celebrity online. “Anytime we post about Engine 101 on social media, it blows up,” Chris said. “People love seeing it in action. It’s nostalgic and reminds people of when they were kids.”
A post about the Big Boy event alone reached hundreds of people and helped put the small-town department in the spotlight, according to Chris. “We’ll get messages from people in other states asking about the truck,” he added. “It developed a following none of us expected. People just love it’s still out there doing the job.”
Looking Ahead
When the day finally comes for Engine 101 to retire, the department plans to preserve it for parades and community events. “It’s too much a part of Villa Grove’s story to ever be parked for good,” Chris said. “Someday it might slow down, but for now, it’s still going strong.”
Engine 101 continues to connect generations of firefighters and neighbors who believe in showing up for one another. “Taking care of your equipment and your people is at the heart of every firefighter’s career,” Chris said.
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