Fire truck aims to rescue nonprofit

Firetruck Rentals, a few million dollars, a few volunteers could get organization marching

COURTESY PHOTO A 1971 International Harvester fire truck is available for rent from Firetruck Rentals Las Vegas, with the proceeds targeted to fund nonprofit organization Las Vegas Marching Arts.

Warner, the truck was donated to Las Vegas Marching Arts.

Fast forward to 2010, and Warner is pimping out his ride at a rate of $500 for four hours plus a $150 fuel surcharge to pay for Warner's trip into Las Vegas from his home just south of Hoover Dam. Warner said he is willing to negotiate on prices. All profits from the truck rentals over above what is used to pay salaries are earmarked to fund the Las Vegas Marching Arts program.

Warner said he hopes Firetruck Rentals will eventually employ about five people, including a maintenance person and banner painters.

The bright red truck is available for parties, special events, fundraisers, parades and basically any shindig you can imagine. Renters can string banner advertisements along the vehicle's side and use the back for performance staging. Bachelorette parties can rent it if they want to roll around town hook-and-ladder style.

Warner said he's had a request from a strip club owner who wanted to put a hot tub on the back that was with filled with bikini-clad girls, a new brewery will utilize the truck for a year's worth of events as well as a rock and roll band performing in Vegas.

"We do pretty much anything people want with a fire truck," Warner said.

The vehicle accommodates up to 12 passengers and has a working siren and lights. Warner's two Dalmatians even make appearances with the truck.

Although he's using the fire truck to raise money for his pet project, Warner said he's enjoying riding with customers and seeing audiences' faces light up when they see the nostalgic vehicle.

Really, though, Firetruck Rentals is a means to an end for Warner. He just wants Las Vegas Marching Arts to happen.

Wayne Bridge, CEO of the Sin City Chamber of Commerce, met Warner about three years ago when Warner approached the chamber about Las Vegas Marching Arts.

"What he's trying to do really would be great for kids," Bridge said.

In the years since, though, Bridge hasn't really heard of any progress by Warner to bring his idea into fruition.

"If it works, more power to him," Bridge said.

Bridge said many Las Vegas nonprofits are on shaky ground because of the slow economy, so launching can be particularly hard for an organization that has yet to establish a following.

"If he can get it off the ground, then I give him an 'A' for effort because he's worked hard on this for a long time," Bridge said.

Warner is projecting the annual budget for the drum and bugle corps to be $2 million. He needs $3 million more to buy the startup equipment.

According to Drum Corps International, there are several different types of drum corps organizations in the United States with several kinds of budgets. Community-based drum corps that participate in local parades and festivals can operate on annual budgets of several hundred dollars. Longtime top-flight touring drum corps groups that travel internationally can have organizational annual budgets exceeding $1 million.

Bugle alone, of which he needs about 75, start at $3,000. Warner also plans to buy uniforms, other musical instruments, charter buses and tractor trailers to transport the group's equipment.

"It's not a tiny little thing, by any means," Warner said.

If it's so costly, and he has no help, why is working so hard to make this happen?

"Drum and bugle corps has brought me more joy in my life than anything other than my two dogs," Warner said.

The state of Nevada does not have a professional drum-and-bugle corps, and Warner thinks it's about time the state's residents have one. But first he needs at least three people to serve as his board of directors without voting rights for one full year. Those people, according to Warner, either need to "have deep pockets, know people with deep pockets" or have special fundraising talents.

The no-voting thing isn't flying well with volunteers who have stepped up so far.

"People get impatient," Warner said. "They get burnt out and they leave."

Warner, however, seems to be very patient if not a bit of a perfectionist. He wants one full year as trustee to see his vision through and to execute Las Vegas Marching Arts as he believes it should be executed with a board backing him.

"I will not start a drum and bugle corps without a good board," Warner said.

The entrepreneur wants Las Vegas Marching Arts to last and said that if he dies or goes nuts, he wants people in place who can take the reins and sustain the program.

"This is going to be a legacy of mine, not just a pastime," Warner said.

Warner, 56, is trying to create the nonprofit by himself .

In the end, musicians from Las Vegas Marching Arts, if it ever starts, will consist of a 150-member drum-and-bugle corps, a 100-member cadet corps of students ages 9 to 13, a 30-person color guard, a four-person baton group and a 30-member drumline. Warner wants them to perform Rat Pack-era songs.

To rent this truck, call Randy 928-767-4895

Contact reporter Laura Emerson at lemerson@lvbusinesspress.com or 380-4588.