Ocala Fire Rescue donated a piece of firefighting apparatus to a volunteer fire department in the Bahamas during a Thursday afternoon ceremony.
After the destruction of most of their fire rescue equipment during Hurricane Dorian, the Marsh Harbour Volunteer Fire & Rescue Department (MHVFRD) in Central Abaco, Bahamas, was left with a dire need for everything from apparatus to bunker gear. Learning about their needs, Ocala Fire Rescue started an exhaustive search for potential equipment donations. That search led to a 1992 Titan Aircraft Rescue Fire Fighting truck that had been retired from the agency’s fleet in 2018.
On Thursday, among a group of representatives from both fire departments and city officials, the keys and title to the apparatus were presented to MHVFRD. Equipped with separate tanks capable of holding copious amounts of water and extinguishing agent, the ARFF truck will allow MHVFRD to service areas including Marsh Harbour International Airport, Treasure Cay International Airport, the North Abaco Port and Port of Marsh Harbour. Additionally, the apparatus will aid with coverage of six area fire stations and the ability to fight fuel fires.
