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11/01/2024 02:08 PM

‘Reserve’ Firetruck on the Way for Hurricane Helene Victims


CLINTON

Following the devastating damage done to southern states by Hurricane Helene, the Clinton Volunteer Fire Department (CVFD) is donating a 1998 Spartan Fire Truck to communities impacted by the storm.

In late September, Hurricane Helene made landfall in the southern United States. The storm had a severe impact across the region. According to the National Weather Service, “Helene’s largest impacts were across the southern Appalachians where widespread severe and unprecedented flooding occurred with hundreds of fatalities and billions in property damage.”

As recovery efforts are ongoing, the CVFD has donated a truck for communities to use. CVFD Chief Brian Manware said the department saw a post requesting spare equipment, which spurred the department to donate its truck. The Town Council unanimously approved the donation at its Oct. 16 meeting.

Manware said the truck is a 1998 pumper which is used to carry water hoses and ladders for fire suppression. He explained that this was not the first time the department had donated equipment.

“We are working with The Terry Farrell Firefighters Fund. They organize and handle the donations in and out. The truck will be donated forever; we have previously donated apparatus to New Hampshire, Maine, and Texas. Some have gone up for town surplus equipment auction as surplus equipment that only made the general fund $3,5000 to $5,000, far less than the value for a community in need,” Manware said.

Manware said the donation of the truck would not impact operations in Clinton.

“The unit has been in reserve status since 2017, and when the new tanker arrived in the spring, there was no longer room for it,” he said.

Manware said the recipients of the donation would likely get more use out of the truck than Clinton would have.

“We strive here to keep an updated, safe fleet for our firefighters. As apparatuess age, the cost to maintain continues to rise. Going to a department with far less call volume may last for many more years; some of the departments impacted were running apparatus from the '70s and '80s,” Manware said.

Manware said he wanted to thank the Town Manager, Town Council, the CVFD membership, and the community for supporting the donation.