Dave Tonneson, 81, has spent the last two years restoring a fire truck that was once part of the Fort Montgomery Fire Department where he's been a volunteer first responder for 60 years.

"The bones were good and she's back," said Tonneson.

Built in 1940, it served the department From 1946 to 1970 then went to Rockland County.

A few years ago, Tonneson heard it may have been in Spring Valley.

Sure enough, the now 85-year-old truck was there, and the homeowner donated it to Tonneson, who went straight to work to fix it from the inside out.

He says it even has much more horsepower now.

A project that taps into his love of history and fire service also sparked the long history he has with the truck as a firefighter.

He remembers driving it in a snowstorm on the way to a fire call.

"One of the firemen on the back, lifted his one foot up to put his boots on and off he went," said Tonneson. "He landed in the snow and slid down the road on his back. Not hurt, but certainly wet. But that was kind of funny."

Tonneson plans to take it out on the road this summer.