ANF donates fire engine to Cherry Grove VFD
ANF donates fire engine to Cherry Grove VFD
Forest Service photo by Alisen Downs Members from Cherry Grove Volunteer Fire Department accept the keys to a donated fire engine from the Allegheny National Forest and Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. From left are Rusty Barr, Cherry Grove Volunteer Fire Department second assistant chief; Zane Johnson, assistant chief of the Cherry Grove Volunteer Fire Department; Mike Barr, Cherry Grove Volunteer Fire Department chief; Brad Turberville, acting forest supervisor, Allegheny National Forest; John Fry (fire management officer of the Allegheny National Forest; and Jay Lindemuth, fire forester, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
Forest Service photo by Alisen Downs Mike Barr, Cherry Grove Volunteer Fire Department chief, and Zane Johnson, assistant chief, are pictured in a fire engine donated by the Allegheny National Forest to the Cherry Grove Volunteer Fire Department in Clarendon.
Forest Service photo by Alisen Downs Members from Cherry Grove Volunteer Fire Department accept the keys to a donated fire engine from the Allegheny National Forest and Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. From left are Rusty Barr, Cherry Grove Volunteer Fire Department second assistant chief; Zane Johnson, assistant chief of the Cherry Grove Volunteer Fire Department; Mike Barr, Cherry Grove Volunteer Fire Department chief; Brad Turberville, acting forest supervisor, Allegheny National Forest; John Fry (fire management officer of the Allegheny National Forest; and Jay Lindemuth, fire forester, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.
Forest Service photo by Alisen Downs Mike Barr, Cherry Grove Volunteer Fire Department chief, and Zane Johnson, assistant chief, are pictured in a fire engine donated by the Allegheny National Forest to the Cherry Grove Volunteer Fire Department in Clarendon.
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The Allegheny National Forest has donated a fire engine to the Cherry Grove Volunteer Fire Department.
The transfer, made possible through the Federal Excess Property Program, places surplus federal equipment into the hands of local emergency responders to support public safety and wildfire response.
Located within the Allegheny National Forest, the fire department plays a vital role in regional emergency response, according to ANF officials, by assisting with wildland fires, medical incidents and vehicle accidents. The addition of the donated fire engine will enhance the department's readiness, expand operational capacity and improve response in rural areas where smaller, more maneuverable engines are essential.
"Emergency response is a team effort, and volunteers are a critical part of that team," said Brad Turberville, acting forest supervisor of the Allegheny National Forest. "Local fire departments, like Cherry Grove, are vital partners in caring for the land and serving people. We're proud to support them with the tools they need to be successful and are grateful for the service they provide."
Cherry Grove's fire chief Mike Barr emphasized the importance of the new engine, noting that the department currently relies on a single truck dedicated to emergency medical services.
"This engine is going to be a great asset to our community," Barr said. "It increases our flexibility to best serve the public when they need it most."
The Federal Excess Property Program bridges federal resources and local needs by equipping rural and volunteer departments with critical tools that enhance fire capacity and reduce response times. Jay Lindemuth, fire forester for the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, highlighted the program's benefits.
"We rely heavily on volunteer fire departments, who face continual staffing and budget challenges. Any way our agency can assist benefits the greater good," Lindemuth said.