Last week, fire department trailers usually used for carrying antique fire trucks made a very different kind of trip.
The trailers went to Texas carrying relief supplies for people impacted by Hurricane Harvey. The trip was made possible by firefighters from Beacon Falls, Seymour, and the generosity of the communities they serve.
The idea to send relief was first floated in a group text message between firefighters.
Beacon Hose Company #1 used social media to solicit donations from the community and in just over a day they received some $250,000 in cash donations and supplies
"We’re all firemen. We always step up and do something when we need to and other people are in need," Captain Cal Brennan of Beacon Hose Company #1 said.
"Our troops are always willing to stand up and help out. That’s basically what the fire service is about," Chief Michael Lombardi of the Seymour Fire Department said
Firefighters loaded a trailer from Beacon Falls and one from the Seymour Fire Department with things like canned goods, pet supplies and baby food. They said they felt the support for their journey from the beginning.
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"Everybody beeping horns, waving at us. Once we got down there, for people to see the supplies we were bringing and realizing how far we came was a real uplift for them," Brennan said.
One of the Seymour firefighters who made the trip, Michael Lombardi, even adopted one of the pets in need thanks to the storm: Isabella, from the Houston SPCA.
"We found her and she came up to us and here she is," Todd Nihill said.
Firefighters said the road to recovery in Texas will be long and they’re just glad to help get it started.
"What happened down there was devastating. But we were able to give our portion and what we could do and our helping hand from our community," Lombardi said.
As Hurricane Harvey recovery begins in Texas, in Florida there’s now the concern about Hurricane Irma. The chief of the Seymour Fire Department said they’re watching how this storm progresses and may also send relief to people impacted there.
