Centre Daily Times Logo

On Centre: Bald Eagle Area | Howard Fire Company grateful for gift, but work remains | Centre Daily Times

×
  • E-edition
  • Home
    • Customer Service
    • Mobile & Apps
    • Archives
    • Contact Us
    • Plus
    • eEdition
    • Newsletters
    • Subscribe
    • About Us
    • Local
    • Penn State
    • Sandusky Scandal
    • Communities
    • Crime
    • Business
    • Education
    • Politics
    • Public Records
    • State
    • Nation/World
    • Weird News
    • Sports
    • College
    • Golf
    • High School
    • MLB
    • Motorsports
    • NFL
    • NHL
    • Outdoors
    • Penn State
    • State College Spikes
    • Politics
    • Elections
    • PSU Sports
    • PSU Football
    • PSU Basketball
    • PSU Baseball
    • PSU Hockey
    • PSU Soccer
    • PSU Volleyball
    • PSU Wrestling
    • Nittany Lines Blog
  • Penn State Football
    • Living
    • Announcements
    • Family Pages
    • Eat, Play, Live
    • Home & Garden
    • Entertainment
    • Weekender
    • Comics
    • Games & Puzzles
    • Celebrities
    • Horoscopes
    • Movie News & Reviews
    • Music
    • TV
    • Opinion
    • Editorial Cartoons
    • Submit a Letter
  • Obituaries

  • Classifieds
  • Jobs
  • Cars
  • Homes
  • Place An Ad
  • Mobile & Apps

Bald Eagle

On Centre: Bald Eagle Area | Howard Fire Company grateful for gift, but work remains

By Chris Rosenblum

    ORDER REPRINT →

February 19, 2014 01:28 AM

As firefighters, the Howard Fire Company members usually are on the receiving end of gratitude.

These days, however, they’re the thankful ones.

Graymont Inc., a lime and limestone producer in Pleasant Gap, recently gave the fire company a 2001 Ford F-350 crew cab pickup — an appreciated gift. The fire company plans to convert the pickup into a brush/utility truck for better coverage of Howard borough and Curtin, Marion and Howard townships.

Primarily, the modified pickup would be used to combat wildfires, but company firefighters also envision it carrying emergency medical services supplies, holding fire police equipment and even towing water rescue boats.

SIGN UP

Sign Up and Save

Get six months of free digital access to the Centre Daily Times

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

#ReadLocal

But first, the company needs a little more than $20,000 to modify the truck, on top of the $2,500 already spent on body and transmission repairs.

“It needs work,” said Mark Ott, fire company president. “It’s been used in the mine for however many years.”

Ott isn’t complaining. On the contrary, he couldn’t be happier about the donation.

For years, the company had been using an aging American LaFrance fire engine for wildfires. Currently, the engine is out of service because of a faulty pump and other problems.

Even before, though, the engine wasn’t suited for the job.

Its size kept it from getting close to remote fire sites. Mechanically unreliable, it suffered from the rocky terrain frequently encountered on calls.

“It’s not built for going into the woods, and that’s where most of these fires are,” Ott said.

Now Howard Fire Company has a four-wheel drive replacement that might have been unaffordable otherwise, Ott said.

“It gets us part of the way there,” he said. “If we had to buy a truck and then put all the gear in there, it would be much worse. It’s a great step forward.”

Much work remains.

To handle calls, the truck needs a custom utility bed, water pump, storage boxes for tools and gear, radios, emergency lighting and other equipment. The storage boxes alone will cost $5,000.

The company plans on applying for a state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Forest Service grant to cover some of the expense. In any case, the firefighters will need public support.

Donors can purchase $25 sponorship shares and specify which equipment they want their money to help provide — though Ott said the company will appreciate any contributions. Ten or more shares earns recognition on a plaque in the J.K. Yearick Center entryway at the fire station in Howard.

Send donations designated for the “Brush Truck” to the Howard Fire Company at P.O. Box 276, Howard, PA 16841, or call the station at 625-2761 or Ott at 470-0777.

If all goes well, the truck could be finished by spring of 2015. Once ready, it will allow the company to respond to wildfires and ATV accidents more quickly, said Ott, who put out a call of his own.

“Just keep supporting your local fire company — not just us but all of them,” he said. “We’re all in the same boat.”

Get ready to fish

It may be frigid now, but it’s not too early to plan for trout fishing season.

Bald Eagle State Park is offering a beginning fly tying workshop series for just $5, starting from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday at the park’s Environmental Learning Center. Monthly sessions will include fly tying classes, watershed education and casting instruction.

Sessions also will take place March 22, April 26 and May 24. On the last day, participants will fish with ties made during the series.

Register before Saturday by calling 625-9369, by stopping into the park office or mailing a check to Bald Eagle State Park, 149 Main Park Road, Howard, PA 16841.

  Comments  

Videos

This local band will perform in the National Independence Day Parade in Washington D.C.

Tractor trailer fire shuts down I-80

View More Video

Trending Stories

Penn State’s Sandy Barbour becomes one of the Big Ten’s highest-paid athletic directors

February 22, 2019 12:31 PM

Penn State set to move forward with more than $140 million in capital projects

February 21, 2019 08:28 PM

After plowing through snow days, Centre County school districts will extend school year

February 22, 2019 12:01 PM

After donating sperm in State College, one man found his offspring — and love — decades later

February 22, 2019 12:24 PM

Former Penn State kicker Robbie Gould understands speculation about possible Chicago Bears return

February 22, 2019 06:55 PM

things to do

Read Next

After plowing through snow days, Centre County school districts will extend school year
Video media Created with Sketch.

Penns Valley

After plowing through snow days, Centre County school districts will extend school year

By Bret Pallotto

    ORDER REPRINT →

February 22, 2019 12:01 PM

The end of the Centre County school year has been pushed back to June because of weather-related cancellations. The State College, Bellefonte, Bald Eagle Area, Penns Valley and Philipsburg-Osceola school districts have used all make-up days.

KEEP READING

Sign Up and Save

#ReadLocal

Get six months of free digital access to the Centre Daily Times

SUBSCRIBE WITH GOOGLE

MORE BALD EAGLE

This all-inclusive sport is growing in popularity in Centre County high schools

High School Sports

This all-inclusive sport is growing in popularity in Centre County high schools

February 10, 2019 05:13 PM
There’s one more day to see the Pa. Farm Show. Here’s who’s won awards from Centre County

Pennsylvania

There’s one more day to see the Pa. Farm Show. Here’s who’s won awards from Centre County

January 11, 2019 03:55 PM
What the wettest year on record meant for Centre County in 2018

Community

What the wettest year on record meant for Centre County in 2018

December 30, 2018 08:47 PM
When will the Mountaintop region have safe, reliable drinking water?

Community

When will the Mountaintop region have safe, reliable drinking water?

December 18, 2018 02:43 PM
Eight months after water system’s ‘critical’ failure, Mountaintop residents face challenges

Local

Eight months after water system’s ‘critical’ failure, Mountaintop residents face challenges

November 03, 2018 03:57 PM
In the works for a decade, the Mountain Top Activity Center is a step closer to reality

Local

In the works for a decade, the Mountain Top Activity Center is a step closer to reality

October 31, 2018 02:34 PM
Take Us With You

Real-time updates and all local stories you want right in the palm of your hand.

Icon for mobile apps

Centre Daily Times App

View Newsletters

Subscriptions
  • Start a Subscription
  • Customer Service
  • eEdition
  • Vacation Hold
  • Pay Your Bill
  • Rewards
Learn More
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletters
  • News in Education
  • Photo Store
  • Archives
Advertising
  • Information
  • Place a Classified
  • Local Deals
  • Place an Obituary
  • Today's Circulars
Copyright
Privacy Policy
Terms of Service


Back to Story