Updated  12/27/2011   9:30PM EST

                                     
 The History of The Rekindle Society                                                   

SPAAMFAA (The Society for the Preservation and Appreciation of Antique Motor Fire Apparatus in America) was founded in 1958 as an international, educational, historical, and non-profit society.  It was started in Syracuse New York by a group of people that were dedicated to preserving, restoring, and operating the fire fighting apparatus that are a part of our heritage.      In the year 2000 in Spartanburg, SC, a Firefighter named Rocky Pollard wanted to promote the preservation and history of antique fire trucks.  Rocky was a member of SPAAMFAA.  Rocky wrote a newspaper article in the local paper advertising for fellow fire history buffs.  The newspaper article recruited Travis Stafford, Tommy Pearson, and Paul Sisk.  Together they formed a local chapter of SPAAMFAA.  The closest chapter to Spartanburg was in North Carolina, however, it no longer had active membership.  The four of them decided to meet O’Charley’s Restaurant in Spartanburg at noon on December 30^th, 2000.  They also invited the members of the North Carolina Chapter.  On that day, The Piedmont Area Antique Fire Truck Association, also known as the Rekindle Society, was born. Since that day membership has grown to over forty members in both North and South Carolina.  The chapter became increasingly familiar to other chapters nationwide through national conventions and newsletters.  The chapter needed a new name because those from outside the Carolinas were unsure of the Piedmont’s location.  In 2005 the chapter’s name was changed to The Carolina’s Chapter of SPAAMFAA, or the Rekindle society.   The chapter has attended many functions throughout both North and South Carolina.  These events include the King’s Mountain BBQ festival in NC, the Rusty Piston show in NC, the SC Firefighters Association state convention in Myrtle Beach, SC, the Spartanburg Spring Fling in SC, the Williamston Spring Water Festival in SC, and events at the South Carolina Fire Academy.  The chapter has also participated in many other events such as local Christmas parades, musters, parties, and SPAAMFAA National Conventions.  In 2005 the chapter acquired it’s first antique from the Laurens County, SC Fire Department.  The chapter received a 1960 C-95 Mack pumper.  It is currently being housed in Spartanburg, SC.  Later that year the chapter acquired it‘s second antique.  This time the chapter received a 1973 Seagrave from the BMW Manufacturing Plant‘s Fire Department.  It is also currently being housed in Spartanburg, SC. We invite you to join and get involved in the rich history of the fire service, even if you choose not to have a truck of your own, it's a great way to meet new friends and help keep history alive.