MILTON -- It's not often that one state grant benefits four organizations.
A $19,000 grant to the Turbot Township Fire Company brought about a "cascade" of equipment that ultimately helped four fire departments in the region. That one grant assisted Turbot Township, Potts Grove, Herndon and Danville's East End fire departments.
John Williams, Turbot Township fire chief, said his company received the initial grant, and with some additional funds already in hand, officials purchased a 1991 Mack tanker from the Potts Grove Fire Company in East Chillisquaque Township, Northumberland County.
"They had started to build the tanker, but then they got a federal grant and bought a new one," he said.
Williams said Potts Grove used the proceeds from the sale of the tanker to purchase a used brush truck from the East End Fire Company in Danville. That truck replaced a much older model the company originally received as a donation.
The Turbot Township company has installed a front-mounted pump on its new tanker and is waiting for one part before painting the tanker Turbot Township's signature orange and white. Williams said the pump had been removed from an older truck and stored for about eight years. Cromley's Garage, of Milton, mounted the pump, and Pik Rite Inc., of Lewisburg, did the plumbing.
"I knew we'd have a use for it someday," he said.
The old Turbot Township tank truck was too old to sell, Williams said, so the company started looking for another fire department to adopt the truck. Known as "the Great Pumpkin" for its orange color, the truck was still serviceable.
State Rep. Merle Phillips, R-108 of RR2 Sunbury, had a list of fire companies looking for used equipment, Williams said, and Turbot Township contacted Herndon, which was on Phillips' list.
Doug Klock, Herndon Fire Company chief, said the company had been considering a tanker for a couple of years.
"I guess it was word-of-mouth that got back to John Williams," he said. "We knew him from some other dealings, and he got in touch."
Klock said the 1,500-gallon capacity tanker would be a welcome addition to Herndon's roster.
"We depended on other departments in the area for tankers," he said. "This will give us more flexibility and add to our capabilities."
Tim Schrader, first lieutenant with the Herndon company, has been working on the tanker. He said it would be a big help to Herndon.
"We could've used this tanker a few weeks ago," he recalled. "We were at a fire and had it under control until we ran out of water."
Schrader said the tanker would retain its bright orange paint job.
"The license plate says it all," he said, pointing to the front plate emblazoned "The Great Pumpkin."
Williams was happy to see the Great Pumpkin go to Herndon in a token $1 sale.
"We wanted to do what we could to ensure it would remain in service," Williams said.
"We didn't want it to end up as a farm truck. That should never happen to a fire vehicle."
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Wayne Laepple/The Daily Item
Discussion
Cascade of aid
Grant ends up helping four fire companies
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