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Fire Truck Donated to Teach Future First Responders

SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY  — A fire truck is ending its service with the Rush Volunteer Fire Department, parking in a new garage in Susquehanna County.  It’s all...

SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY  -- A fire truck is ending its service with the Rush Volunteer Fire Department, parking in a new garage in Susquehanna County.  It’s all to help young students learn the ropes of the firefighting service.

"It means a lot to us, we’ve been waiting for it, we’re excited for it, all of us have been asking every other day when is it coming, when is it coming," said 10th grade student Samantha Herne.

Firefighters drove the truck to the Susquehanna County Career and Technology Center near Dimock.  Rush Volunteer Fire Department’s Chief says instead of selling it, the truck will now help high school students studying firefighting.

"They have hoses on it we left on the truck, nozzles, adapters, some small hand tools we left on there so they’re all things that they’ll be able to feel, touch, use and hopefully learn from," said Rush Volunteer Fire Department Chief Tom Jauss.

Fire officials hope with a donation of this size that it will also help fight a bigger problem in many communities throughout Susquehanna County. Firefighters hope this truck will drum up more interest in volunteering with local departments.

"That’s one of the biggest problems, especially today with the new training regulations that have to be done," said volunteer firefighter Wayne Very.

Teachers here say they’ll begin the essentials of firefighting course, preparing students to answer fire calls in the future.

"They’re going to be allowed to begin as a junior firefighter and they’ll have the basic knowledge that they’ll have to go through their local fire company and they’ll be getting it here at school," said Homeland Security and Protective Services teacher Justine Dickinson.

Ninth grader Tim Jones is already looking to volunteer in Meshoppen or Montrose and can’t wait to learn more.

"It’s really awesome to like put your hands on it and really get a feel for what you’re going to be working with if you’re interested in the field,” said Jones.

Fire and school officials say it’s just the beginning of a strong partnership in Susquehanna County.

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