What does a small volunteer fire department do when its only medical response vehicle faces a catastrophic engine failure?
The answer to that question takes a lot of creativity, heart, and a phone call to RC&D.
McCollum-Midway Volunteer Fire Department’s medical response vehicle was inoperable for a year, and the department had to use a non-medical vehicle or work with other departments to respond to emergencies. In medical emergencies, the ability to respond quickly and safely can determine whether Walker County residents get the critical care they need in time.
With the help of the Cawaco RC&D grant program, the VFD replaced the engine to bring the vehicle back to safe operational condition. But this critical component wouldn’t have happened without the work of the department—one of McCollum-Midway’s own firefighters, Zach Walker, replaced the engine with his own hands.
“Our volunteer fire departments provide a tremendous service to our community. I was glad to support this grant to help McCollum-Midway VFD get their medical response truck back on the road so life-saving emergency medical services can be readily available,” said Sen. Matt Woods. “Thank you to CAWACO for providing the resources to help our first responder community.”
“McCollum-Midway Volunteer Fire Department works hard for their community and works hard for funding… We are so thankful that the fire department reached out and we were able to provide $10,000 in funding for the new engine and other accessories,” said Rep. Tim Wadsworth. “Thank you McCollum for what you and your department does. Y’all save lives, save property, lower premiums for our community, and you are the lifeblood of your area and Walker County. Thank you for your help always.”
Cawaco is proud to partner with departments like McCollum-Midway to ensure rural areas have access to critical emergency services. Stories like this one are a reminder that investing in our rural volunteer fire departments is an investment in the safety and well-being of entire communities.
