FA reported last year that the Charlottesville Fire Department was donating a retired fire truck to Winneba. Well, members of the department recently traveled there as part of a delegation from the Charlottesville-Winneba Foundation, with the apparatus arriving soon thereafter.

Captains Carter, Henderson, and Battalion Chief Carpenter traveled with the Charlottesville-Winneba Foundation delegation to strengthen the Sister City partnership between Charlottesville and Winneba, Ghana. During the visit, members of the delegation were immersed in the local culture and events.

First, the delegation attended the Aboayker Festival. The festival is hundreds of years old and is a celebration to mark the migration from the ancient Western Sudan Empire. The most impactful portion of the cultural experience for the delegation was a guided tour of both the Elmina and Cape Coast Castles. These castles played a significant role in the gold and enslaved person trades. But also, two significant contributions were made here: the arrival of Christianity and the establishment of the first formal education system through Castle Schools.

Additionally, the fire department members met with the current Chief of the Winneba Fire Station and his staff. Together, they reviewed the work completed in 2019, focusing on reducing fire risk in the Winneba response area. In late 2021, the Charlottesville Fire Company donated a retired fire engine to the Ghana National Fire Service, Winneba Station. Unfortunately, circumstances did not align for the truck to have been delivered to Ghana before the visit, but NBC29 reports that it eventually made it there about a week later. Nevertheless, Chief Hughes and his staff were very excited and had several questions about the truck and its capabilities.

“We want to thank the Municipal Chief Executive of the Effutu Municipal Assembly, Hon. Alhaji Zubairu Kassim, staff, and the members of the Ghana National Fire Service, Winneba Station, for their hospitality.”

E-ONE—Cayce (SC) Fire Department HP100 aerial platform quint. Typhoon cab and chassis; Cummins X12 500-hp engine; 100-foot aerial platform Hale Qmax 2,000-gpm pump; 300-gallon polypropylene water tank; Harrison 10-kW generator. Dealer: Chase Cummins, Safe Industries. Easley, SC.

MORE FIRE APPARATUS ARTICLES>>

On Wednesday, the St. Thomas Fire Department (STFD) became the first full-time fire department in Canada to receive the MSA LUNAR device, which is designed to improve firefighter safety via a thermal imaging camera, reports ctvnews.ca.

The equipment, 10 units of which were delivered, aims to help crews locate different heat in the house, including the seed of the fire, the report says. In addition, GPS features allow officials to keep track of all the firefighters on scene.

The pack clips onto the strap of the firefighter and has a retractable cord for easy use. STFD crews will begin training with it next week.

Related Articles:
MSA Unveils Technology to Help Make Firefighting Safer
Boston (MA) Fire Department Field Tests MSA’s LUNAR Device
MSA Safety Donates $400,000 in Safety Equipment to Ukraine Firefighters
The Outdoor Effects Emissivity Has on Thermal Imaging
‘I Knew I Was Dead!’ Thermal Imaging Saves Firefighter in Sevier County (TN) Fire

On the heels of turning 225, the Lexington Fire Department is seeking help to purchase a $1,732,062 aerial ladder. Chief Ty Dickerson is inviting residents to donate tax-deductible contributions to help offset the cost.

“The Lexington Fire Department recently celebrated its 225th Anniversary of service to Our Community,” the department writes on Facebook. “We are proud to have served our neighbors in their times of need for these many years. Whether it is something as simple as cutting a stuck ring off a finger, rescuing a dog caught in a storm drain, battling back the raging flames of a fire, or our most common responses to your medical emergencies, we strive to always be there for the citizens and visitors of Our Community- Lexington, Rockbridge, and Buena Vista.

“There have been many evolutions of the LFD over those years as we change with the times to meet your needs, expectations, and the current regulations. Equipment and vehicles are a part of those changes and 2022 finds us at the point in time that we must replace our most expensive vehicle. Our current Aerial Ladder Truck is now 24 years old and nearing the end of its service life. This Ladder Truck has served us well.

“I am writing to you today to invite you to participate in the purchase of this new Aerial Ladder Truck. While we love helping others and plan to continue to do so for the next 225 years and beyond, we are now seeking your support. We have on order a new $1,732,062.00 Ladder Truck. This Aerial Ladder Truck is an investment in maintaining top-level fire and rescue services to our community. This new Ladder Truck will not only provide our community with direct service via its equipment it is also a key ingredient in LFD’s rating from the Insurance Service Office (ISO)* that helps to keep your property insurance rates lower.

“On behalf of the entire Lexington Fire Department, I invite you to join us in the purchase of this Aerial Ladder Truck with your tax-deductible contribution. Checks can be made payable to:

Lexington Fire Department

Attn: Ladder Truck Campaign

c/o Treasurer, City of Lexington

300 East Washington Street

Lexington, VA 24450

“We appreciate all of your past support and thank those individuals, businesses, and institutions who contribute to this special campaign. All donations to this campaign will be used exclusively towards the cost of this new apparatus. Thank you for your thoughtful consideration of this invitation and please contact me with your questions, if any.

Sincerely,

Ty Dickerson

Fire Chief

“*An ISO fire rating is a score provided to fire departments and insurance companies by the Insurance Services Office. The score reflects how prepared a community is for fires. While it mainly focuses on the local fire departments and water supply, other factors contribute to an area’s score. Only 30 fire departments in Virginia have an ISO Class 3 rating. Only 29 departments have a Class 1 or 2 rating. Lexington Fire Department has an ISO rating of 3.”