Poverty Creek VFD written by Winston-Chloride VFD

Sirs:
I am the Fire Chief of the Winston-Chloride Volunteer Fire Department located in the remote western part of Sierra County, New Mexico. I am requesting that you consider awarding your beautiful E-One Tradition ES pumper to our neighboring fire department, the Poverty Creek Volunteer Fire Department. They are even more remote and more rural (read poorer) than we are.
Several years ago a number of the Poverty Creek area residents joined together to form a team that could help their neighbors protect their homes and properties in case of fire. Eventually, the Sierra County government recognized their efforts, and designated their area as an approved fire district. Sierra County is not able to finance its rural fire departments; however, the State Fire Marshall’s office provides an annual allotment that is intended to help with operational expenses. The amount is not sufficient to purchase the high dollar PPE needed to provide for the safety of the fire fighters, nor the apparatus needed to make them effective in protecting their neighbors.
For several years the Poverty Creek VFD has operated using ‘hand me down’ tools and PPE. A number of the volunteers have spent their own money for training materials, and for travel expenses to attend training sessions with other county fire departments. They operate two small commercial pickup trucks that they have modified into fire trucks. One is a 1976 4x4 pickup that has a water tank and gasoline powered pump installed. The other is a 1980 GMC 4x4 pickup with a utility bed, and with a water tank and a gas powered pump. Both vehicles were donated to them to help their efforts, and both vehicles are kept in a neighbor’s barn.
Recently the County and the State approved their request for a loan to build a fire station. The loan has been approved and construction will start this spring. The problem is that the annual loan payment will take most of the State allotment, leaving very little money to be saved toward the purchase of a modern fire apparatus.
The Winston-Chloride VFD and the Poverty Creek VFD have a mutual aid agreement, and we cooperate on most fires in either district. One problem is that we are located approximately 30 miles apart with a mountain range between us, so help in either direction is 45 minutes or an hour away. If Poverty Creek VFD were to be awarded this beautiful E-One Tradition ES pumper, it would vastly increase their effectiveness in providing fire protection to their neighbors, and to the fire fighters safety. It would also serve to recognize the hard work and dedication they have displayed.
I appreciate E-One’s offer to donate this apparatus to some deserving fire department, and I am certain there are many deserving fire departments across the nation, however, I believe that Poverty Creek’s continuous efforts to improve their capabilities, under adverse conditions, deserve your consideration.

Sincerely,
Donald R. Edmund, Chief, Winston- Chloride VFD