Oct. 14--Cadets at the Fire Academy at Arizona Western College will now have an additional fire engine to train on, thanks to the Winterhaven Fire Department.
The AWC Foundation received a 1987 KME fire truck, valued about $7,500, from the WFD on Thursday to be used for Fire Science Department at AWC.
WFD chief Steven Taylor explained, "Over the last three years I've gotten about 30 candidates out of the Fire Academy that graduated from AWC, and I've have about 10 out of last year and this year's academy that are actually volunteering with the fire department. We thought what a better way to donate back to the community than to give them something they can practice on."
He explained that WFD received the truck as government surplus out of California with the request that it be kept in their possession for a few years and after that, they could either sell it or get rid of it.
Taylor commented that WFD battalion chief Scott Wilson suggested they donate it to the academy at AWC.
Normally, he said, WFD donates a lot of its equipment to Mexico. Taylor added that the first fire engine that WFD ever had is now being used in Los Algodones.
"This one," he said, pointing to the truck, "is still in good shape and it will give a chance for the crews to learn how to use the equipment."
Denise Sweet-McGregor, executive director of the AWC Foundation, said a fire truck is not on the usual list of donations.
Sweet-McGregor said she immediately called the AWC Fire Science Department to make sure it would be a good asset, and Marc Holyfield, director of emergency services, said it would be a great addition.
Holyfield said they have a fire engine donated by the Rural/Metro Fire Department but it is no longer in working condition. "This is really a big addition to the program."
Yuma, Rural/Metro, San Luis and Somerton fire departments all provide trucks to use temporarily throughout the course of the program, he added, but this will give the cadets the opportunity to have a vehicle to call their own.
Another benefit, Holyfield said, is that the WFD truck is a different model than the one they have. "The big configurations are different, which is really beneficial because they can experience two different types of hose loads and things along those lines."
Plus, the pump on the WFD engine is operational, which will allow for an additional facet of training.
Holyfield was accompanied by four cadets to pick up the vehicle.
Jeremy Tyree, academy cadet chief, said, "To have this on site ... it's going to be an invaluable asset to train the cadets and there won't be any time lapses in training waiting for an apparatus. It's really an awesome gesture for these guys to donate this to us."
