CLARION, Pa. (EYT) – The Clarion Volunteer Fire Department is among several western Pennsylvania fire companies donating used fire trucks and equipment to aid earthquake victims in Nepal.

(Photo courtesy KDKA-TV)

Clarion Fire and Hose Company rode around for about 33,000 miles on Truck 15, a mac pumper with an old style open cab which didn’t meet new state regulations.

When the fire company purchased a new replacement truck earlier this year, they sought options for Truck 15.

“There’s not a lot you can do with an old fire truck, and we didn’t want to see it go to scrap,” Clarion fireman Glenn LaForme told exploreClarion.com.

LaForme said he learned about the possibility of donating the truck for use in Nepal while watching a Pittsburgh television station with a feature story on area watchmaker Mike Kobold.

Kobold is working with the Soarway Foundation to deliver donated used fire trucks and equipment to the Katmandu Fire Brigade.

“So I called them up and (Kobold) said they were definitely interested in our help because they need it. The Katmandu Fire Brigade is the entire fire department for all of Nepal. They had seven trucks, but they lost two in the earthquake, so they’re down to five. He said he’s heard stories about how people in Nepal have a house catch on fire and just try to get out and watch it burn because there aren’t enough trucks and equipment,” LaForme said.

Clarion Fire and Hose donated more than just Truck 15; LaForme said they also donated a host of used equipment that no longer meets fire regulations in Pennsylvania, but will serve well in Nepal.

“We donated air tanks, helmets, boots, and about 1,000 feet of hose, enough for our truck and then some,” LaForme said.

A Long Trip

As of last week, Truck 15 from Clarion was in Pittsburgh, but it has a long trip ahead of it.

“They’re going to put it on a rail car in Pittsburgh with the other donated trucks and ship it to the west coast. They’ll put it on a ship to Calcutta, India, and then drive it up all of those slow mountain roads to Nepal,” LaForme said.

The organization is still looking for more fire trucks and other fire fighting donations until at least mid-September, LaForme said.

“We’re hoping other fire companies will see this and donate, too,” he said.