Former City Councilman José Ibarra, second from right, and retired firefighters Frank Tamayo, left, Edward Montaño, Jim Russell, Bill Martin and Dave Spaulding with the 1954 Mack pumper they are restoring.

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Retired firefighter Frank Tamayo believes that for about 10 percent of firefighters, work is just a job; for the other 90 percent, it is a calling.

With that in mind, Tamayo and the Last Alarm Foundation are on a mission to honor fallen men and women of the fire service with a final tribute befitting that dedication — a "last alarm" ride on a restored 1954 Mack pumper truck to their final resting places.

"I don't think there is any better way to honor firefighters on their last ride," said Tamayo, who logged 25 years with the Tucson Fire Department and has remained active with the Retired Firefighters Association of Tucson for the past 21 years.

Tamayo and a group of fellow retirees including Oscar Baca, Jim Cervello, Larry Duffy, Joe Graves, Bill Martin, David McAdams, Ed Montaño, Jim Russell and David Spaulding originally conceived the idea for a last-alarm vehicle dedicated to retirees based on the protocol for a traditional fire service funeral. Firefighters lost in the line of duty customarily receive a firetruck in attendance — sometimes used as the hearse — at their funeral services.

Implementing that protocol has become increasingly difficult due to several factors, including time and cost restraints for preparing a truck for the procession (which requires about a week) and loss of use of the vehicle.

The size of contemporary firetrucks also makes it impractical for pallbearers to safely lift caskets onto the hose beds where they rest during funeral processions, according to Last Alarm Foundation Development Director Daniel Matlick.

"Firetrucks today cost well over $500,000," said Matlick, who is president of United Fire, a local fire equipment company. "They are very technical and have lots of specialized equipment, and the practicality of taking trucks like that out of service for that period of time is not there anymore."

Matlick appreciates the sentiment involved for Tamayo and the other retirees.

"Firefighters are a unique breed of people," he said. "It is obviously a very dangerous job where they are constantly putting their lives on the line, but there is a certain tradition involved with it: They are almost like folklore heroes … and it is very important for them to get that traditional fire-service funeral."

The goal has been supported by former City Councilman José Ibarra and local businessman Neil Capin, who were instrumental in aiding the group in finding a 1954 Mack, L Model, 1,250 GPM Sedan Pumper originally owned and operated by the Long Beach, Calif., Fire Department.

The truck is being restored and rebuilt and will include a custom hydraulic-lift system to raise caskets to the hose bed. The group has raised about $110,000 in the past three years and formed a non-profit organization dedicated to the project. They estimate they need about $60,000 to complete work on the truck.

Matlick said the foundation has plans to provide traditional fire-service funerals throughout Southern Arizona and possibly the entire state. It hopes to eventually offer services to volunteer firefighters and other local public-safety officers as well.

Ultimately for Tamayo and his colleagues, it is all about respect for fellow firefighters —those currently serving the public and those who served at a time when equipment was less sophisticated and in short supply.

Tamayo hopes to see the truck finished as soon as possible. He said that, unfortunately, some of the largest donations recently have come after the loss of three retired firefighters.

"It is sad to see how many old-timers who passed away that deserved their last-alarm ride on a truck and the truck is not ready. Hopefully in six or eight months it will be done," Tamayo said.