Ferndale Volunteer Fire Company Gives Engine To Tennessee Dept.

MILLERSVILLE, MD — The Ferndale Volunteer Fire Company (FVFC) is used to helping locals in need. Recently, the FVFC did its part to help a volunteer fire company in Sneedville, Tennessee, by donating its old fire engine.

According to a release, the FVFC handed over Engine 342, a 1994 Spartan/Quality 1500 gallon per minute (GPM)/1000-gallon water tank fire engine, to the Chestnut Ridge Volunteer Fire Department on June 9.

Before that, the Chestnut Ridge department, from a town of 1,486 people near the Tennessee/Virginia border, had gone two years without an engine of its own after its previous engine experienced mechanical failure. The department, without a budget to replace its previous engine, had been forced to operate with a homemade tanker and brush truck.

"This (donated) engine will benefit our community in so many ways, from water capacity to the ability to haul our gear in storage compartments," Chestnut Ridge Chief Wayne Bailey said. "We promise to take as good care of her as you all have."

Engine 342 was designed by the FVFC, and it had served mainly as its backup to Engine 341 over the years. But its presence allowed the station to remain available when Engine 341 was on a call. Engine 342 had been used in fighting multiple fires during the 2015 Baltimore riots.

However, when the time came to move along Engine 342, Ferndale Chief Jay Olson suggested to the department's Board of Directors that it be donated instead of sold.

Board president John Long said he appreciated the decision.

"From my traveling, I knew there was a need in our country," Olson said. "The biggest surprise was how fast the response came in once it was posted on the internet."

Long said he posted information about the available truck on the National Volunteer Fire Council's Voice website. The first interested company responded within an hour of the post. Within three days, 23 requests had been made for the engine. Requests came in from Texas, New Jersey, Wisconsin and Alabama.

The board ultimately made the decision to donate to Chestnut Ridge, a department they felt was particularly in need.

Olson said many of the FVFC members were on hand when representatives from Chestnut Ridge arrived to take possession of the engine. The transfer has connected these volunteer departments to one another.

"It was suggested that we adopt the Chestnut Ridge Volunteer Fire Department as our sister station," Olson said. "We look forward to a long-lasting relationship with them."