Cemetery of Firefighting Trucks

During one of my explorations, I came across a hauntingly beautiful graveyard of firefighting trucks tucked away in Armenia. These machines, which once roared to life to battle hundreds of fires and save countless lives, now stand silent and weathered—like retired heroes left to rest. Through my photos, I aimed to immortalize their legacy and pay tribute to these rugged Soviet-era workhorses.

The red fire engines you see are Soviet ZIL-130 AC-40 fire trucks. The ZIL-130 is a Soviet truck made in Moscow by the ZIL factory. The first prototype appeared in 1956, and production began in 1962. Full-scale mass production started in 1964. By 1994, over 3.3 million ZIL-130 trucks had been built, making it one of the most common cargo trucks in the USSR and Russia, widely used in firefighting, military, and industrial roles.

Key Features of the ZIL-130 AC-40:

Distinctive front grille and rounded fenders
Classic red-and-white dual-tone paint scheme
Mounted ladders and hose racks on the roof
Cyrillic unit numbers and markings
Heavy-duty off-road tires for rough terrain

Now rusting in the tall grass, these trucks are more than scrap metal—they're relics of another era. The location is a hidden gem for anyone into urbex tourism, vintage Soviet vehicles, or retro-industrial photography.

Join my urban explorer tours to uncover the hidden marvels of Armenia! For a personalized itinerary, please contact me.