What do you do with a bunch of firefighting equipment that is still usable but no longer meets U.S. safety standards? Well, if you’re the Rowan Fire Department (RFD), you hatch an elaborate plan to donate the equipment to firefighters in different countries. That is precisely what the RFD is working on currently.
This whole project started a while back when the Rowan guys were working on cleaning out their firehouse. They were having to move some equipment around to make more room for some city water tanks. Rowan Fireman Joe West said, “We were going through the gear and found we had a lot of old equipment, and we didn’t really have a big dumpster to throw everything out.”
This is when West got curious and creative. He got online and started to research. He wondered if there was somewhere to donate the equipment rather than just throw it out. He said this would be tricky though. “Regulations have basically been made where you can’t use anything that is older than ten years old in the U.S.,” West said.
Fortunately, West found a promising option: A group called the LoneStar Bomberos, based out of Arlington, Texas. According to their website, “LoneStar Bomberos is a nonprofit organization with the goal of supporting and educating fire departments that are in need of assistance.” The group fulfills this mission by donating firefighting equipment and providing training to several Latin American countries including Mexico and Ecuador.
Donated items could include personal protective equipment for firefighters, hoses, fire extinguishers, masks, among other things. These donations are possible because Latin American countries do not have stringent requirements for fire equipment or depending on the location, any requirements at all.
West reached out to the Bomberos to see if they could use their old equipment and they said yes. West added that the RFD will be donating bunker gear, jackets, pants, boots, gloves, helmets and more. And in an unexpected twist, other fire departments have started to join Rowan’s effort.
After a local news story about their mission, West says that the RFD began getting calls offering more donations. Local departments like Dows and Galt offered equipment. Departments across the state including Mitchellville and Milo wanted to help too. West even drove to Nebraska last weekend to pick up a donation from there!
The Rowan Fire Department is happy to be able to help fellow firefighters, even if they are thousands of miles away. “In those areas, they use something until it breaks,” noted West, who has himself been a firefighter in several locations throughout the country. “Firemen are a brotherhood and really the same everywhere, so we wanted to do something to help.”
“There are people out there who have nothing more than shirts and pants to fight fires,” said Rowan firefighter Mark Pluff. “We want to equip them with something a little more robust.”
As he continues to collect more equipment, West struggled with how to deliver it to the LoneStar Bomberos in Texas. He says he has now landed on shipping the equipment to Arlington where the Bomberos will sort and ship the gear themselves to those in need.
West added they are still happy to take donations of equipment or funds. Gathering and shipping the equipment is an expensive endeavor with shipping alone costing around $1000. If departments or individuals would like to donate to the cause, you can contact West at 515-825-8256 and leave a message or text.
