Jan. 03--West Odessa Volunteer Fire Department received enough money to pay for major repairs to their brushfire truck damaged by vandals on Christmas Day, according to Fire Chief Jimmy Ellis.
The vandalism dispirited and angered the volunteer firefighters.
"These guys work other jobs and then do this in their off time. For somebody to do something like that to us," Ellis said, sighing. "I mean we work on these trucks all the time to keep them running, day and night"
But about $17,000 in donations will allow the thankful volunteers to replace damaged equipment. Gardendale's Permian Trucking gave $10,000, the chief said.
The vandals scattered truck fittings on the ground and ran water on another truck, which froze and broke pipes. The investigation into the incident is ongoing and firefighters are still assessing the damage.
The most expensive damage identified so far is the pump of a brushfire truck, Ellis said. The pump, about $4,000, allowed the volunteers to haul 1,200 gallons through off-road terrain. The truck is unusable without the pump.
But Ellis said he made arrangements to get a new pump once the checks clear the bank. He plans to buy it Friday.
Another major piece of equipment damaged was the manifold, about $2,000. It must be custom built. And Ellis said the department might discover more damaged equipment once the pump is restored, allowing firefighters to operate the truck.
The volunteers will take any donations that exceed the final cost of repairs and save them for spring and its grass fires, Ellis said.
Anyone wishing to donate may call the department at 432-381-3033. Anyone with information about the vandalism may call the Ector County Sheriff's Office at 432-335-3050.
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