Evanston FD helps Shelbyville FD
June 25 12:23:10, 2025
The Shelbyville Daily Union recently published a heartwarming story about one fire department coming to the aid of another. It all started when the Shelbyville Fire Department faced a serious challenge after an oil rig fire near Clarksburg in April left several pieces of their gear damaged and contaminated with oil. The soiled equipment posed a safety risk, as it could potentially catch fire, limiting its use to only those firefighters not directly entering a blaze.
This situation caught the attention of a visitor from the Evanston Fire Department during the Balloonfest in October. While attending a cookout hosted by the Shelbyville team, the visitor learned about the department’s struggles. Moved by the story, he reached out to his chief and suggested that Evanston donate some of their unused, brand-new gear to help Shelbyville.
The generous donation arrived on Monday, and by Wednesday evening, the firefighters were able to inspect and begin using the new equipment. In addition to the gear, the Shelbyville Fire Department also received a $10,000 check from Shelby Electric Cooperative, the Shelbyville Area Community Foundation, and CoBank's Sharing Success Program.
“The cookout at the Balloonfest helped us raise $4,000, just short of our $5,000 goal for a matching grant,†said Kevin Bernson from Shelby Electric Cooperative. “But thanks to the Foundation, we were able to cover the remaining $1,000 so they could get the full match.â€
The $10,000 will be used to purchase 10 more sets of firefighter gear. Chief Gary Lynch explained that each set has a lifespan of about seven years, after which it must be replaced. Older but still functional gear will be donated to the State Fire Marshall to be sent to other departments in need.
Firefighters rely heavily on public support, as their main funding comes from taxpayers. Fundraisers like the one at the Balloonfest help cover extra costs that are essential for their work. Many of the department’s members are volunteers, making community support even more vital.
“We couldn’t have done this without the help of Shelby Electric Cooperative, the Foundation, and CoBank,†Lynch said. “We’re incredibly grateful.â€
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* Off-road chassis, 4W drive system, solid off-road wide tire, full-time axle balance system, 38kw power, excellent adaptation to any terrain. Work platform is enable to extend out, enlarging the work space, together with the foldable fence making the transportation easier.
* Full - range work; direct and friendly control panel easy to control; precise and effective electric-hydraulic proportional
system Chassis tilting protection, platform overloading warning, emergent lowering, safety speed limit, flexible start/stop
technologies.
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