North Warren Fire Department negotiates on a $500,000 fire truck, seeks funding to finalize a deal by December

North Warren Volunteer Fire & Rescue (NWVFR) Company 10 isn’t the only local organization experiencing a funding shortage, but COVID-19 could not have hit the northside fire department at a worse time.

At the beginning of this year, North Warren’s creaky but still functional fire engine was beginning to suck up thousands of dollars in maintenance costs – $10,000 in repairs in just the last few months. In January, out went the call for donations to put a down payment of $100,000 on a new half-million-dollar emergency vehicle and all went well until March. As the virus took off, there was $46,000 in the truck fund.

However, since March through the end of July, just four donations had arrived in North Warren’s coffers ($325); and according to an SOS letter from Company 10 President Ray Warriner and Fire Chief Reggie Fritts, things are looking pretty desperate.

While this is neither of them, N. Warren Company 10 is seeking funding for a new firetruck to replace its aging unit that has become a money pit on expensive repair maintenance. Royal Examiner file photo.

Acknowledging that “we are all in a period of unprecedented hard times” but citing the increasing cost of truck repairs, Warriner wrote: “We have been holding off seeking donations but feel we must ask those who can, to consider donating now… (to) purchase or lease a dependable emergency vehicle that can respond to your calls for help.”

He and Fritts said their truck committee had hoped to have a contract by the end of June but extended the target to the fall while developing specifications on a truck that will meet the needs of the community. Without giving any dollar amounts, the letter to community residents said a combination of generous donations from citizens, business and industry, are closing the funding gap, but more dollars are needed from the communities served – Warren, Frederick (Lake Frederick), Clarke (White Post area), and Shenandoah Counties so that “we (can) order the new truck soon.”

In a telephone conversation, Warriner said Frederick County had only recently been added to the fire department’s responsibility but was generous in its financial contribution to NWVFR. He indicated about $60,000 was in hand toward a $100,000 target and that a 15-year lease arrangement was being sought. He said talks on a contract would continue this Saturday, October 3rd, and that hopefully there would be sufficient money available to complete a contract by the end of the year.

Fingers crossed!

Tax deductible donations may be made online at northwarrenvfr.com/donate or call (540) 635-6759.