Summit Fire Apparatus

Charles Messmer started the company under the name of Summit Welding and Fabricating in 1957. Using his experience in fabricating and being a founding father and fire chief of the local fire department, Charles constructed the first fire unit, a Tanker, later that same year.

Two of Charles’s sons immediately followed in their father’s footsteps and came to work at Summit after school. Joe and Tom Messmer began learning the trade of welding and fabricating from their father and assumed current ownership after Charlie’s passing in 1969.

In 1975, Summit Welding and Fabricating became Summit Fire Apparatus with the emphasis as a refurbishment shop of fire apparatus. Over the years Summit and their employees gained experience and knowledge from repairing and refurbishing other manufacturer’s apparatus. Joe Messmer, President and Tom Messmer, Vice President had made the decision to change the mission of Summit Fire Apparatus from a refurbishment shop to apparatus manufacturer in 1980.

In 1994, Summit more than doubled its Edgewood, Kentucky plant from 14,500 sq. ft. to a 31,000 state of the art facility. Through computer aided technology and firefighter experienced management, Summit has developed a line of apparatus that includes Pumpers, Tankers, Rescue Trucks, Brush Trucks and specialty units such as our Haz-Mat Rescue and SCBA Refill Air & Light Vehicle.

Today, Summit Fire Apparatus continues its “Commitment to Quality at Affordable Prices” on every apparatus built.

Summit, family owned and operated since 1957

Innovation

Summit Fire Apparatus introduced the fire industry to an extended front bumper at FDIC 2001. We extended the front bumper 12” and constructed boxes containing 2 hydraulic reels with pre-connected tools.

It must have been a great idea, they watched engineer after engineer photograph, sketch and measure our bumper. In part thanks to Summit Fire Apparatus innovation, front bumper extensions have become common place. Straight rescues with front bumper hose reels and tool storage have been showing up all over town. Any why not, it makes perfect sense to put the tools you need first up front, within easy reach and ready to use.