In 1986, Lynnfield Firefighter Joe Lingel had an idea for a better type of tank to replace the rusting metal tank in one of its pumpers.
So he partnered with Alan Burnham and the two men fabricated a plastic replacement tank to replace the steel tank. The idea was so well received, they decided to make it their life’s work, WCVB reports.
More than 25 years later, United Plastic Fabricating still churns out tanks for fire trucks around the world.