Firefighters’ Box Car Earns Best of Show

CLEARWATER, FL — Clearwater Fire & Rescue personnel are accustomed to rushing in to help in emergency situations. On Saturday, two members of the department raced for fun instead.

The agency’s entry earned Best of Show honors in the 7th annual Achieva Box Car Rally’s homemade division. The box car had two drivers who split duties: Fire Medic Mo Perdigon and Driver-Operator Tim Smith.

Designed to look like a mini fire engine, Perdigon and Smith’s box car was hand-built over the course of a few days. The replica engine measured in at 8 feet long, 4 feet wide and 4 feet tall, significantly smaller than a typical fire rescue vehicle.

Box cars eligible for Saturday’s event could weigh no more than 150 pounds on their own. The total weight for car and driver was no more than 400 pounds.

The typical fire engine weighs about 38,000 pounds. A standard fire truck weighs about 78,000 pounds, the agency noted in an email to media.

Photos courtesy of Clearwater Fire & Rescue