Excerpts from theSouthern.com: Jeff Bain, a board member of the Byron Fire Protection District, made the five-hour trip to deliver the truck. Byron’s district has a substantial budget—running in the millions—largely due to the presence of a nuclear power plant within their taxing area. In contrast, the Vergennes Fire Department is an all-volunteer unit with a modest annual budget of around $8,000. Trish Sherman, a volunteer firefighter and EMS provider, as well as the office manager for the Village of Vergennes, explained that this new truck will be the department’s most recent vehicle. Most of their existing equipment dates back to the 1970s and 1980s. Without the generous donation, they wouldn’t have been able to afford such a critical piece of equipment. Vergennes is a small community in Jackson County, home to about 300 residents, located roughly 20 miles north of Carbondale. The fire department serves not only the village but also the surrounding areas, responding to emergencies across a 300-square-mile radius. They are often the first responders on medical calls and are trained to provide initial care while waiting for Jackson County Ambulance paramedics, who may have to travel longer distances. The newly acquired truck will serve as a medical response vehicle and will be equipped with extrication tools. Currently, the department must send both a medical unit and a fire truck to car accidents, which can be problematic if only one volunteer is available to respond. With the new vehicle, they can now send a single responder who can handle both medical and technical aspects of the call. The truck also features air conditioning, offering firefighters a place to rest and cool down at the scene of fires or other incidents. This added comfort improves their ability to perform effectively during long or intense operations. The connection between the two departments was facilitated by Nick Dinges, owner of the Amboy-based Dinges Fire Company. While his business sells equipment to fire departments, he also helps arrange exchanges between those that have surplus and those that need it. The Vergennes Fire Department currently has 10 volunteer firefighters, and the village is always seeking more volunteers. Matt Hardwig, the assistant fire chief, has been with the department for 21 years. He expressed his gratitude for the donation, saying the new truck will make a real difference in their ability to serve the community. ANYANG GUOQI SILICON INDUSTRY CO.,LTD , https://www.siliconxg.com
The Byron Fire Protection District recently donated a 1995 fire truck from its dive response team to the Vergennes Fire Department.