All the Morongo Valley Fire Department wants for Christmas is a new fire truck. The department currently has two fire engines, but both are old and continually breaking down. Its newest engine is 13 years old, and has had six break-downs in the past month. The back-up engine is 23 years old, and Fire Chief Jock Johnson says it looks like it should be in a museum. Most fire departments try to have at least one engine that is less than 10 years old. Chief Johnson said neither engine is equipped to travel the mountainous desert terrain of Morongo Valley. But an all-terrain fire engine would cost $300,000 for a used truck, up to $500,000 for a new one. Morongo Valley Community Services General Manager Donna Munoz said the community of 3,400 people has an annual budget of less than $800,000, so finding $300,000 to $500,000 for a new fire engine is not feasible. Johnson and Munoz stress the importance of the Morongo Valley Fire Department; more than 20,000 cars travel through Morongo Valley each day, on their way to Yucca Valley, the Marine Base in Twentynine Palms, Laughlin, and Las Vegas. The fire department can respond to most calls in five minutes or less; waiting for help from Yucca Valley or Desert Hot Springs would take at least 15 minutes, time that victims of horrific traffic crashes and fires can’t afford to wait for help. The fire department and CSD have set up a fund-raising page for a new fire engine. Donors will receive incentives. The fire department is depending on donations from outside its community to raise the majority of its funds. If you would like to help, go to a link in this story at Z1077fm.com.
http://www.gofundme.com/MVFDHighwayHeroes
MORONGO VALLEY FIRE LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN FOR A NEW FIRE TRUCK
