Odessa American
ODESSA, Texas — Three years ago, wildfires raged across Texas, burning houses, cattle and fields.
In 2014, while the fires have not been as destructive, a local volunteer fire department chief said he lives in constant fear of fire season.
Jimmy Ellis, chief of the West Odessa Volunteer Fire Department, said donations like the Chevrolet Tahoe given by Ector County help them in their mission not just to stop fires but to keep the public safe.
“I’m going to do the best I can to protect the citizens of Ector County,” Ellis said. “I’m always nervous about a fire season. I’m one of the most paranoid people in the world.”
Ector County Judge Susan Redford said the truck donated by the county had more than 250,000 miles on it and was going to be auctioned off if it wasn’t donated.
Redford said the county tries to help whenever it can, including with monthly stipends to the department.
“They serve a very important purpose for the county,” Redford said. “They’re able to assist with any needs in the county and work on very limited budgets.”
Ellis said he’s not bashful, and often will ask people who have trucks for sale if they can afford to donate the truck to the volunteer department.
“A lot of people don’t realize if they help out, the piece of equipment they give us might save somebody’s life,” Ellis said.
The Tahoe donated by the county will be used as an EMS first responder, he said, as well as being used in traffic situations instead of one of their fire trucks.
Ellis said the department has three pump trucks, four large brush fire trucks, three one-ton brush fire trucks and one super tank truck for their 20 volunteer firefighters to use.
While the most important things residents can do is prevent fires by keeping trash picked up and keeping large weeds pulled, Ellis said, any donations of one-ton trucks also help the department.
“Whether they do or don’t (donate), we’ll still be there,” Ellis said.
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