Park Place Infiniti helps save an old fire truck

Park Place Infiniti is proud to support Save the Fire Truck, an organization of North Las Vegas firefighters aiming to preserve a piece of Southern Nevada history, a 1941 Howe-International fire engine.

Park Place Infiniti is contributing $2,075 toward the project and is a title sponsor with J’s Classics, the Aliante and others for the Inaugural Old Town Rally Car Show set for 10 a.m. March 16 at 7300 Aliante Parkway in North Las Vegas. Car show proceeds will benefit the old truck’s restoration.

“It’s rare to have the chance to save a little slice of history,” Park Place Infiniti General Manager Joe Tortomasi said. “Park Place Infiniti prides itself in being a good corporate partner with the community, and I’m honored to participate.”

The car show will feature live entertainment and a variety of cars on display, including a 2014 Infiniti Q50, a 1911 Cadillac, a 1939 Rolls Royce and a 2007 Mustang GT Cobra.

The Howe Fire Apparatus Co. built the fire engine for the North Las Vegas Fire Department in the early days of its incorporation.

The city was officially incorporated in May 1946.

North Las Vegas Fire Capt. Cedric Williams said the truck served the community for more than a decade.

Although the fire engine’s history after leaving the city is unclear, it was found in a scrap yard more than 10 years ago. It now belongs to the North Las Vegas Firefighters Association.

“This old fire engine is something we can use to get kids excited about our local history and maybe inspire them to join public service in the future,” Williams said. “We are grateful for all the community support we’ve gotten for this project.”

This historical preservation project is expected to cost about $50,000.

The fire truck will be used as a mobile display and educational tool for schools and special events once the restoration is complete.

Park Place Dealerships, founded in 1987 by Ken Schnitzer, is based in Texas and represents luxury brands including Lexus, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volvo, Jaguar, Rolls-Royce, Bentley, McLaren, Maserati, Lotus and smart.

In June 2012, Park Place purchased the Infiniti dealership in Las Vegas.

For more information on Infiniti visit: www.parkplaceinfiniti.com.

For more information about the Save the Fire Truck, visit www.safethefiretruck.com.