Local fire station to donate a fire truck to aid in hurricane relief

HINTON, WV (WVNS) – A big piece of Summers County is going to aid hurricane relief efforts in Tennessee.

The Summers County Volunteer Fire Department made the decision to donate one of their fire trucks to Southside Volunteer Fire Department in Erwin, Tennessee.

This comes after Southside VFD lost their rescue truck to the flood waters, while in the line of duty, according to SCVFD Fire Chief Jacob Jeffries.

“It did not sit right with our department, especially in light of the 2016 floods. Which, our department and most of our town was spared pretty well, but others around us were not,” said Jeffries.

Chief Jeffries said that the truck they are donating was set to retire in 2025. He explained that it will serve a better purpose assisting a station which needs a new truck.

Summers County Emergency Medical Services volunteered to replace the lettering on this truck, so that the truck can immediately go into service as soon as it arrives in Tennessee.

“I just want to stress the importance that it is not just the Summers County Volunteer Fire Department. We are donating the truck, but there is so much more going on. It is not just our department. It is everyone together as a whole. Other departments are going to see that the truck has equipment on it to replace the equipment that was lost,” said Jeffries.

This truck will be delivered within the next two weeks. Jeffries also informed 59News that they are collecting donations to deliver along with their truck.

“We are still accepting donations for the fire department. I talked to Chief Hilemon. He is the chief of Southside Volunteer Fire Department down there. He said those guys can use some morale boost of just Gatorade, snacks, essentials like that while they are out working to clean up,” said Jeffries.

You can donate by messaging the Summers County Volunteer Fire Department on Facebook or by calling their station at (304) 466-2389.

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