Salt Lake County, UT Local 1696 fire fighter Scott Thorell is a dedicated 22-year veteran fire fighter and 15-year veteran flight medic who also has a passion for cooking. So when a 1963 Ford taco truck became available on eBay, he seized the opportunity to start a business.Thorell resigned his position as flight medic to give himself time to concentrate on the new venture. “The truck was already pointed red, so it seemed right to redesign the truck with a fire theme,” he says.
He named the truck “4Truck” in remembrance of the Fire Department of New York Ladder 4. The entire crew assigned to that apparatus died on September 11.
“On the tenth anniversary of the terrorist attacks, I road with my union brothers from Utah to New York in honor of all 343 [FDNY fire fighters],” says Thorell, who is the president of the Utah IAFF Motorcycle Group (IAFF-MG) chapter. “When we got there, I was very inspired by our New York brothers and sisters and it really made me appreciate what it is to be part of the extended fire service family.”
4Truck has been fitted with a commercial kitchen and has already been out serving customers. “Right now, I do firehouse favorites such as ribs, chili Colorado and meatloaf. Down the road, I may do more,” says Thorell.
