By VIVIAN AUSTIN
Biloxi Sun Herald (Mississippi)
The Gulf Park Estates Volunteer Fire Department recently purchased two new 2,000-gallon tankers to replace firetrucks lost during Hurricane Katrina.
The tankers are among acquisitions and donations that are helping the volunteer firefighters recover from Katrina. City and volunteer fire departments in South Mississippi and others nationwide have provided money, firetrucks, equipment and manpower.
Gulf Park lost one of two stations, six of seven firetrucks, half of its 28-member force, and all of its office, firefighting and medical equipment to floodwaters and high winds.
Capt. David Peto said the new tankers arrived in January. “Things are slowly moving ahead,” he said.
He said most of the department’s equipment has been replaced.
Peto said recent contributions have included a long-awaited truck from Alaska, a 500-gallon truck from Topeka, Kan., and a pumper from Dale City, Va.
“It didn’t have as much water as we’d like, but it’s a good-running apparatus,” Peto said of the pumper.
Peto said the department received a $22,000 donation plus a 1994 Crown Victoria from Montgomery County, Mass., and they are expecting another check in a few months.
The Rockville Volunteer Fire Department in Montgomery County “did say they adopted us,” he said. “I imagine we will be receiving help from them for a while.”
The Gulf Park station at East Simmons Bayou, engulfed by floodwaters, is not yet repaired. Seabees have gutted the building. “It’s up in the air,” Peto said. “I haven’t heard what we are going to be doing with it.”
Many of the firefighters working at the Elm Street station in St. Andrews lost their homes during the storm and are living in FEMA trailers. Said Peto: “Just like everybody else, they are trying to slowly rebuild.”