By Jon Hughes
FireRescue1 Editorial Director
 Photo FireRescue1 Staff Owens Cross Roads, Ala., Fire Chief Dan Kelly is congratulated by a fellow contestant after winning a new Tradition ES pumper in E-One’s ‘Tell Us Your Story’ contest. |
CHICAGO — In what is becoming a meaningful annual tradition within the fire service, E-One again gave away a fire truck to a needy department in a presentation at the IAFC’s Fire Rescue International in Chicago today.
Owens Cross Roads, Alabama, Volunteer Fire Department took home the new Tradition ES pumper as the top vote-getter among the seven finalist departments in E-One’s ‘Tell Us Your Story’ contest. The competition — which drew more than 600 entries — asked departments to submit essays explaining why they were the most deserving of the new truck.
Owens Cross Roads Fire Chief Dan Kelly was overcome with emotion as E-One President Peter Guile announced the winner of the $170,000 truck in front of a large crowd of show attendees and exhibitors.
“I’m rarely at a loss for words, but I am now,” Kelly said, wiping his eyes before pointing skyward and mouthing “Thank you.”
This year, the contest — which ended just hours before the presentation — drew 70,000 online votes.
The competition was hotly contested, with the finalist departments employing tactics ranging from letter writing campaigns to dancing YouTube videos in an effort to drive votes their way.
There was a distinctly common thread running through each of the finalists. All have struggled mightily to raise funds in a down economy, turning to drastic measures in many cases.
Many spoke in their essays about the frustration and powerlessness of being unable to serve their communities to the best of their abilities because of inferior equipment and resources.
And all of the departments, Guile joked, serve small towns with “a number of stoplights between one and zero.”
 Photo FireRescue1 Staff A Tradition ES pumper is on display in E-One’s booth at Fire-Rescue International in Chicago. The truck was awarded to Owens Cross Roads, Ala., Volunteer Fire Dept. |
The other representatives all received prizes to benefit their departments, including several sets of new Globe turnouts for the first and second runners up.
But the man with the biggest smile on his face was Kelly, who was straightforward when asked about how the new pumper will help his 20-person department and his community.
“I mean — there it is,” he said, pointing at the truck. “We can do more everything.”