By HEIDI BERNHARD-BUBB
The York Dispatch (Pennsylvania)
Copyright 2006 York Newspapers, Inc.
Chief Jason Wisor of the B.J.W. Volunteer Fire Co. in Clearfield County started getting “panicky” last year when he looked at his company’s aging 1972 fire engine.
The truck “still runs,” but the body is badly rusted, there is water in all of the hoses, and the tank no longer holds water very well, Wisor said.
“This thing is on its last legs, and we can’t afford to replace it,” Wisor said. “I started thinking — what are we going to do?”
The answer came from a York County fire company wanting to help some fellow firefighters.
Manchester Township’s Alert Volunteer Fire Co. in Emigsville recently decided to donate its 1988 Sutphen fire engine after the municipality bought it a new 2006 custom built Sutphen engine for $470,000 through a bond issue.
Closer to home: “Basically, a lot of departments have really focused on donating to Hurricane Katrina victims in the last year,” firefighter Christopher Thomas said. “But a lot of local companies just don’t have the funds ... we decided to help the people close by.”
The decision to donate the truck rather than sell was an easy one because of continued support from Manchester Township, Thomas said.
Thomas also said the market for used engines is “saturated” and the actual value of the engine would be limited.
Alert Fire Co. advertised the truck’s availability through the State Fire Commissioner, and
Thomas said the company received numerous requests for the truck.
Thomas said his company reviewed the proposals and felt the B.J.W. Volunteer Fire Co., which serves Bradford Township in Clearfield County, was the most in need.
Fire company ‘thrilled': Wisor said he and his firefighters were “thrilled.”
“I have nothing but good things to say about the firefighters and people of Manchester Township,” he said.
Wisor said his company is one of the busier fire companies in the area and covers 4,000 people in a 50-square-mile area that includes a large portion of Interstate 80 and a Wal-Mart distribution center.
The company responded to 450 calls last year with its aging engine, he said.
“This is pretty huge for us, I went to see the truck and I thought, ‘Holy nuts, you are giving this away,’” Wisor said.
Thomas said members of the Alert Fire Co. will deliver the engine to Clearfield County Saturday on behalf of the company and residents of Manchester Township.