The original plan was for the Fire Bug to be a promotional or parade rig for the Los Angeles City Fire Department during Fire Prevention Week and such, even though it lacks the departmental markings you might expect. Mechanically, it’s a chopped-pan Volkswagen Microbus, oddly fitted with dual rear wheels.It was a prop on The Banana Splits Adventure Hour, from the save tidal wave of bubblegum mania that gave the world The Archies and Josie and the Pussycats. RM Auctions offered the Fire Bug at its Fort Lauderdale auction on Feburary 2009
It was a 1969 collaboration between George Barris and his partner of the moment, Dick Dean in the late 60's and was in storage for more than 35 years... it seems a lot of Barris creations spent decades in storage, the Tastee Big T did http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2010/06/1966-kustom-built-by-barris-big-t.html
see a whole gallery of photos from 1996 and the new owner http://www.hotrodhotline.com/feature/friends/06firebug/