By Jamie Thompson
FireRescue1 Editor
INDIANAPOLIS — Chief David Powell will always fondly remember the day he forgot to take out the trash — it led to his department winning a brand new fire truck.
The Powellsville, N.C., Volunteer Fire Department scooped a new $170,000 Tradition ES Commercial pumper at FDIC as part of a contest organized by E-One.
The fire truck manufacturer had invited fire departments to “tell their story” in an essay outlining why they deserved to win in celebration of the launch of its Tradition series.
It whittled down the more than 600 entries to seven finalists, but it was the 33-member-strong Powellsville department that won the public vote by more than 5,000 votes.
And it was thanks to Chief Powell’s wife, Cheryl, spotting the essay rules for the competition left beside the kitchen trash can.
Chief Powell, who has headed the department for 30 years, broke down in tears at the presentation ceremony at FDIC. The pumper will replace a Howe truck that the department purchased new in 1972, which has hydraulic brakes and a steel tank that both leak.
After learning the department would not be able to get financing from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for a new fire truck, Chief Powell left all of the associated paperwork by the trash — including a print out of the E-One competition form printed out by a colleague during the research process.
“I should have taken it out the next day, but I didn’t,” Chief Powell said. “It shows sometimes a man can do good by not taking it out — my wife took a look at it the next day and saw the competition form.”
Cheryl took it upon herself to fill out the form, outlining why she felt the department deserved the truck, and only showing it to her husband once she had completed it.
The department survives on fundraisers and donations, and receives just $10,000 from the county annually, which mainly covers its insurance costs.
Chief Powell and his wife, along with the department’s assistant chief, joined the other six finalists at FDIC during a special ceremony to learn who the winner was.
“When they announced who it was, I was just flabbergasted,” Chief Powell said.
“E-One put me on the microphone to say a few words but I only managed to thank them before I choked up. I just couldn’t talk anymore.”