South Windsor Fire Department Donates Truck to CREC PSA Civic Leadership High School
When a firetruck reaches the end of its useful life, the vehicle is often auctioned off, used for parts or sent to the scrap yard. But one firetruck is headed into retirement in a heated garage at PSA Civic Leadership High School in Enfield, where its job will be to inspire and teach new generations of firefighters. The South Windsor Fire Department donated one of its trucks — Engine 6 — to the school and brought the vehicle to its new home Monday afternoon.
Joe Jarvis, who grew up in South Windsor and is a former firefighter, is a fire science teacher at the school. He returned to town for a firehouse open house last October and heard about the availability of the firetruck. But the school was only able to find funding for half of the $10,000 purchase.
“The chief said he would rather not see us sacrifice some things for the sake of the truck,” Jarvis said. “So he spoke with the town manager and worked out a deal to donate the truck.”
Jarvis said the truck will give students hands-on experience of working with a real truck and learning the many aspects of fire service training from pump operations to the calculation of pump pressures and friction loss and ladder extensions.
“To have an actual working firetruck in this firehouse is a way to inspire future high school students to join the fire service,” Jarvis said. “Fire departments all across the country are really hurting for members. They are suffering because they don’t have the volunteers. In addition, the paid fire service is a great career for students who don’t necessarily want to go to college.”
“Having this apparatus here could actually change lives in the fact that it can open doors for students in fields they may have not considered,” he added.
Several South Windsor students have graduated from the school and more are enrolled in the fire program. The school takes students from Hartford and 34 towns across the state. The high school, with grades eight through 12, has about 400 students.
“As a senior here, you are always looking to do something that will benefit the students that come after us,” said Benjamin Couillard, who is also a member of the South Windsor Fire Explorers. “This means the world to me that I helped to do this.”
South Windsor Fire Chief Kevin Cooney, a 35-year veteran of department, said the donation isn’t from the work of one person, but “a thousand connections within the department and community.” He said donating the truck seemed a “natural extension of the department’s longstanding relationship with the school.”
“Donating the truck keeps it useful, and young adults can learn from it and perhaps join the fire service,” he said.
Teachers and students along with firefighters participated in a “pushing-in” ceremony, where the truck was brought into the fire science department’s garage. The tradition dates back to the days of horse-drawn vehicles, when the horses were unhitched and the apparatus was pushed by firefighters into the station.
“Our students thrive when learning comes alive in the classroom and when you have hands-on activities,” said Principal Jeff Larson, who said the firetruck will join a fully-stocked ambulance in the building. “When you have a chance to have a real firetruck here in the building, that is only going to enhance that.”
Marteka, Peter. "South Windsor Fire Department Donates Truck to Enfield School." Hartford Courant, 22 Jan. 20018, http://www.courant.com/community/glastonbury/hc-news-south-windsor-fire-truck-donation-20180122-story.html. Accessed 22 Jan. 2018.