Spencer Fire Trucks honors 40-year legacy in South Haven

By JULIE NEWELL Paxton Media Group

May 23, 2026

SOUTH HAVEN — From repairing trucks in a small pole barn to building custom emergency vehicles shipped across the country, Spencer Fire Trucks has spent the past 40 years growing as a local family operation rooted in South Haven.

Founded by Brian Spencer in 1986, the company began as a way to support his wife and five sons after struggling as a farmer.

“Our dad, Brian Spencer, started the business 40 years ago, actually a few years before that, but didn’t incorporate it until 40 years ago,” Spencer Fire Trucks President Grant Spencer said. “Started off as farmers, and really couldn’t afford to feed the five boys and family through the winter, so started working on cement trucks, repairing fire trucks and then grew it into building a fire truck.”

Using his mechanical background from farming and volunteering with the Casco Township Fire Department and serving in the Air Force, Brian Spencer started by repairing cement and fire trucks.

“He worked at the local Casco Township Fire Department, and was their mechanic, handyman, and then did a lot of repairs for local departments and got known that way,” Spencer Fire Trucks Vice President Quintin Spencer said. “Started and built one body, you know, hired one guy, and then another guy, and kind of, it’s just grown a little bit every year since.”

The brothers grew up watching the business grow from their backyard.

Contact: jnewell@southhaventribune.com, 269-637-1104

Read the full story here: https://www.heraldpalladium.com/communities/south_haven/spencer-fire-trucks-honors-40-year-legacy-in-south-haven/article_e32717f5-b7fe-55ae-a071-559370c4884e.html