WHEATON, Md. — The Wheaton Volunteer Rescue Squad is donating a much-needed ambulance to a flood-ravaged West Virginia county.
The recently retired ambulance will replace one that was destroyed during the floods.
The squad learned about the county’s need after receiving emails requesting aid.
“In that (email), it was indicated that they had lost at least one ambulance that had been totaled in Clay County and they were desperate to get a replacement ambulance,” Wheaton Volunteer Rescue Squad Chief Mark Dempsey told FOX5. “We recognized the ambulance was something we could help them with very quickly.”
Dempsey said that after a unanimous vote by the squad’s board of directors, they were able to “move the ambulance on to somebody who really needs it.”
Once the ambulance is delivered, Dempsey said firefighters there can restock it, place radios inside and it will be ready for service.
“From a department standpoint, it was a nice feeling to be able to do this. In our 75-year history, we have had some ups and downs, and every time we have had a down, somebody else has stepped in and helped us,” Dempsey said. “So to be able to return the favor to somebody else made us feel really good.”
It’s here! Clay County gets amazing gift of new ambulance from Wheaton Volunteer Rescue Squad @wchs8fox11 #WVFloods pic.twitter.com/1ne9u269XZ
— Stef DiPietrantonio (@StefanoWCHS) June 29, 2016