Some fire trucks are forgotten in garages or scrap yards. Others become legends.

Engine 506 began its journey in 1974, when the Protection Engine Company of the South Amboy Fire Department in New Jersey ordered a brand-new Mack CF600 pumper from Mack Trucks in Allentown, PA. Built with a 1000 GPM pump, a 750-gallon water tank, and 30 gallons of foam, it was one of the most capable rigs of its era — tough, dependable, and designed to protect its city.

After arriving at Mack Sales in Edison on August 27, 1974, Engine 506 was officially delivered to South Amboy on September 11, 1974. For the next 26 years, it responded to countless fires, rescues, and emergencies, becoming a trusted backbone of the city’s firefighting fleet.

In 1986, the truck was refurbished by Rescue Systems Inc. (RSI) to extend its life and improve performance. 

Known affectionately as “The Lead Dog” — with the motto “The Lead Dog Goes Where He Wants” — Engine 506 became a familiar and respected sight on the streets of South Amboy.

After decades of service in New Jersey, Engine 506 was retired by South Amboy in 2000 and sold to the Strong Fire Company in Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania. There, it continued its career  as Engine 25, answering calls and serving the community for many more years.

By May 2014, however, Strong Fire Company decided to remove the engine from active duty. At that time, all firefighting equipment had been taken off, and the engine was no longer responding to emergencies. 

Although the Mack still belonged to the fire company, it was then  housed in the Schuylkill Historical Fire Society in Shenandoah, PA and used for community events.
 

For several more years, the truck proudly appeared at parades, open houses, and community functions, representing Strong’s fire service heritage. Eventually, it was sold in 2020, marking the end of its official firefighting career — but not the end of its story.

After leaving Strong’s care, Engine 506 entered a period of private ownership that was not kind to its legacy. Over the next several years, the truck was subjected to a series of ill-considered modifications and cosmetic changes that ignored its history and original design.

While some updates were likely well-intentioned, many of them compromised the truck’s authenticity and character — from unnecessary additions to mismatched parts and questionable alterations. It was clear that 506’s heritage as a classic fire engine had been misunderstood.

By the time it resurfaced, the truck bore little resemblance to the proud engine that once served South Amboy and Mount Carmel. Its condition had declined, and its future was uncertain.

The turning point in Engine 506’s story came in 2023 — and it almost didn’t happen. Out of the blue, Andrew  Fedorka received a phone call from a pawn shop owner in Mississippi. The man explained that the fire engine  had been pawned to him by a previous owner who could no longer retrieve it. As a result, he was considering what to do with it next.

Knowing that the engine had historical value, he reached out after hearing the Fedorkas might be interested in saving and restoring it. And it was just in time — because his original plan was to cut the truck apart and repurpose it as a Mardi Gras parade float.

With that call, Engine 506’s fate changed forever. The Fedorkas quickly moved to purchase the engine and bring it back to New Jersey. They were determined to undo the damage of the past and preserve this piece of firefighting history.

Under The Devil Drives a Mack LLC, restoration began — not just mechanically, but historically. 

Careful attention has been given to returning the truck to its original condition, reversing poorly chosen modifications, and reviving its functional heart. Today, its pump and deck gun are operational once again, and its legacy has been fully restored.

It made its first “public” appearance in the  Firemen’s Memorial Parade on September 13, 2025 In Wildwood, New Jersey. 

Now, Engine 506 is back where it belongs — on the road, in front of crowds, and telling its story. Whether it’s rolling through a parade, appearing on a film set, or standing tall at a muster, the “Lead Dog” lives on as a rolling tribute to the fire service and a reminder of just how close history can come to disappearing.