Seymour Fire Corps’ Capability Expanded Thanks to Anonymous Donations

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November 2011

The Seymour (TN) Volunteer Fire Department's Fire Corps program – Support Services Division – has benefited greatly from a series of recent anonymous donations. It all started when the division realized something needed to be done about the numerous incidents in which the mountainous terrain and/or incident location proved challenging, not only for Support Services members providing Rehab, but also to department firefighters. The division identified the need to acquire an all-terrain utility vehicle (UTV) and a means to transport such a vehicle.

The membership began developing a fundraising plan to purchase the UTV and transport mechanism without impacting the department's other fundraising activities or capabilities of receiving donations from community residents or businesses. On the morning of May 26, 2011, all of these plans significantly changed when the division received the anonymous donation of a BobCat 4X4 UTV from someone within the community. Later that same afternoon, they received another anonymous donation of an enclosed trailer, given in the memory of John Aden, a Support Services member who passed away suddenly on May 10, 2011.

The UTV and trailer has significantly increased the Support Services Division capabilities, as they can now access locations that the existing mobile rehab/command vehicle could not. The division now has the capability of moving essential needed equipment or personnel to and from an incident location, reducing the additional physical stress mountainous terrain usually creates. Division members are currently developing a training module for the BobCat that will provide a safe means to transport sick or injured individuals from terrain-restricted areas, which other vehicles cannot access safely.

The division received another big surprise thanks to Seymour VFD Fire Chief R. Chuck Godfrey, Board Chairman Ted Esch, the board of directors, and the membership of the department, and that was the lettering of the trailer and Bobcat, for which the division had just started to plan a means of fundraising. This surprise demonstrates the commitment and dedication everyone has to the mission and goals of Support Services Division.

Since obtaining the trailer and BobCat, the division has continued to receive very generous anonymous donations of additional equipment for use with the trailer and BobCat.

• New emergency warning lights for the BobCat UTV
  
• New portable generator
  
•  Four new 120 VAC/12 VDC LED flood lights
  
• Two new portable compact fans
  
• A new 13' X 13' canopy
  
• New folding chairs and table
  
• Two New 8' LED interior light strips

The surprises did not end there for the Support Services Division. This fall they received another generous anonymous donation in the form of a 2004 Chevrolet Suburban AWD. 

"These gracious gifts are both very humbling and greatly appreciated by the division and its members, who are committed to providing the highest level of services possible, not only to our department but to our community as well," said Dave Caulfield, Support Services Coordinator.

The addition of the equipment received this year allows the division to operate independently from the department, without having the need to use one of the department's vehicles when the mobile rehab/command vehicle cannot be utilized because of terrain and/or space. "This was a goal which the division hoped to achieve through a five-year plan, developed and established just two years ago," said Caulfield. "For the division to be where it is today, providing the level of services it does, was certainly never expected this soon. I attribute this to the commitment and dedication of the members of the Support Services Division and the support of the department's Fire Chief, board of directors, and members of the Seymour Volunteer Fire Department."

The Seymour Support Services Division was the recipient of the 2010 Fire Corps Award of Excellence for their remarkable achievements and positive impact on their department and community. In addition, Caulfield serves as the Fire Corps State Advocate for Tennessee, promoting Fire Corps and assisting local programs throughout the state.



Author:Fire Corps Press Release