Ship Bottom firefighters pay it forward by donating truck to Alabama fire company

    An Ocean County fire company devastated by Superstorm Sandy paid it forward Tuesday by assisting Alabama firefighters in need of a fire engine. 

    When Superstorm Sandy struck in October 2012, the Ship Bottom Fire Company in Long Beach Island suffered damage to its station, equipment, and trucks.

    The community quickly responded.

    “Not only did we receive monetary donations, but we were lucky enough to be the recipients of a donation of an engine from the Terry Farrell Firefighters Fund,” the fire company wrote on its website. “It is now time for us to pay it forward to someone in need.”

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    So on Tuesday, the Ship Bottom firefighters did just that, donating a retired fire engine complete with tools and equipment to the Garland, Alabama fire company, whose members were on hand to accept. 

    “This fire company currently does not have an operable fire truck or medical response car, their turnout gear and various hand tools were ruined from poor storage conditions, and their previous leadership caused the company to lose funds and members. This fire company has limited to no extra funds to replace any equipment and trucks,” the Ship Bottom Fire Company wrote. 

    And it was a team effort. The Ship Bottom firefighters said that the LBI community also assisted with the donation: 

    Jetty, a local surfing company, donated money to help defray the fuel costs for the trip back to Alabama. Rick McDonough, owner of Typestries Sign & Digital and a firefighter in Ship Bottom, affixed new graphics on the truck. FF1 Professional Safety Services donated a box of brand new structural firefighting gloves. And the Surf City Volunteer Fire Company donated some equipment for the truck. 

    “We could not be more proud and excited to be able to pay it forward to this company by giving them Engine #4621 through the Terry Farrell Firefighters Fund,” the fire company said. 

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