May 9, 2014

Standing in one of Scott Shearer’s barns next to one of his antique fire trucks, a visitor might be forgiven for thinking they’ve stepped back in time, to an era when the firefighter manning an engine as it sped toward a blaze would sit perched atop a leather seat uncovered from the elements, manually sounding the siren with a heavy metal hand crank.

Shearer, 44, a heavy truck mechanic by trade who owns Hi-Land Farm, in Highland, has a passion for old fire trucks, which he rescues from scrap sales and methodically restores to their former glory.

He has a dozen trucks, including his favorite, an all-white 1954 engine he calls the White Elephant, which he acquired after outbidding a junkyard buyer at a Pennsylvania auction.

Problem is, his farm isn’t zoned for the hobby, according to Howard County’s Department of Planning and Zoning. < Read more >

: An antique fire truck sits in one of the garages on Scott Shearer’s farm in Highland on Monday, April 28, 2014. Shearer rehabs old fire trucks as a hobby, but has been getting pressure from the Howard County Department of Planning and Zoning to bring his property, where he stores his 12 trucks, up to standards or face fines. (Jon Sham/BSMG)

: Scott Shearer, of Highland, talks about some of his antique firetrucks in one of his garages on his farm. (Jon Sham/BSMG)

: An antique firetruck sits in one of the garages on Scott Shearer’s farm. (Jon Sham/BSMG)

: A detail shot of a hood ornament on an antique fire truck at the farm of Highland resident Scott Shearer. (Jon Sham/BSMG)

: Two antique fire trucks sit in the back of one of Scott Shearer’s garages on his Highland farm with tools, parts and other eqiupment all around. (Jon Sham/BSMG)