Local fire truck headed for Dominican Republic

By Christine Haines

chaines@yourmvi.com

The Collinsburg Volunteer Fire Company will get a new engine-rescue truck in a few weeks, but the department’s old truck won’t just be sitting around.

The truck will start a new life of service in the Dominican Republic through the FD Relief Mission of Western PA. Engine 103-1 from Collinsburg Station 103 is the 11th emergency vehicle donated to the Dominican Republic through the program. Collinsburg Chief Joel Koricich said it’s a perfect match.

“We have a 30-year-old rescue we need to dispose of. We found out from our fire truck vendor that there was a program where firefighters were gathering used equipment to help fire departments in the Dominican Republic,” he said. “Most of the island is in abject poverty outside of the main tourist areas. Anything they receive from us is a godsend.”

Koricich said despite its age, the truck is in good shape, with a sound engine and transmission, though some of the service components may need some work. 

“Most volunteer fire trucks for departments of our size in our area don’t even have 30,000 miles on them,” he said.

Koricich said the department is also gathering used equipment and gear to go with the truck, so it is fully operational and ready to go into service as soon as it arrives.

“It’s really going to serve a lot more people down there than it has here,” he said.

To read the rest of the story, please see a copy of Wednesday’s Mon Valley Independent, call 724-314-0035 to subscribe or subscribe to our online edition at http://monvalleyindependent.com.