Firefighters begin bringing equipment, gear donations to New Kensington to be driven to North Carolina

When firefighters need help, they turn to what they call “mutual aid” from nearby surrounding communities.

The reach of that mutual aid is expanding on a national scale, as fire departments from Western Pennsylvania and beyond are rallying to support their counterparts in flood-ravaged North Carolina.

Crews from Kittanning, Buffalo Township and Bethel Park were the first to pull into New Kensington on Wednesday, bringing equipment and gear they no longer need but which will be invaluable to fire departments in the Asheville, N.C., area that have lost everything in flooding from the remnants of Hurricane Helene.

Ed Schmidt, secretary of the Bethel Park Volunteer Fire Company, and Bob Clark, the company’s vice president, made the hourlong drive from the South Hills to New Kensington with a trailer full of tools, equipment and gear that was loaded into a waiting 53-foot trailer in a city parking lot.

Schmidt said they brought everything they could find that they could do without.

“We’re just glad we can help,” he said. “The fire service is a big brotherhood and sisterhood, and we try to help when we can, no matter the distance.”

Dustin Cravener, an assistant chief from Kittanning, said he brought three sizes of hoses and water cans he figured were worth about $3,000. He and Tim Hetrick were the first to arrive at the collection site Wednesday morning.

“It’s beyond belief how much damage a simple storm can do,” Cravener said. “It’s amazing what water can do.”

The Sarver Volunteer Fire Company recently used a grant to get new gear for its members. Lt. Zach Hartman came in a squad truck with the back seat piled high with their old jackets, pants and boots that were just sitting around.

“We were looking for a place to send it where it would be used instead of throwing it in a dumpster,” he said. “We brought everything we wouldn’t use that wasn’t in service.”

The destruction wrought on North Carolina is sad to see, Hartman said.

“Entire communities are washed out,” he said. “I couldn’t even imagine.”

Firefighters from all over Western Pennsylvania are anticipated to arrive in New Kensington through Saturday, said New Kensington fire Chief Ed Saliba Jr.

The relief effort, organized by The FD Relief Mission of Western Pa., is expected to make multiple runs to North Carolina from New Kensington over the next three weeks.

Fire trucks, ambulance donated

In addition to a variety of essential firefighting gear, equipment and tools, Saliba said, they had confirmation of two fire engines and an ambulance being donated, with more vehicle donations being tentative, pending the approval of their departments.

How the vehicles will get to North Carolina had not been decided as of Wednesday, Saliba said.

When the call went out for help, Saliba’s phone blew up with text messages, he said.

“It’s nice to see that all these fire departments are coming together to help with some surplus equipment to donate,” he said.

While the devastated fire departments may have insurance that will help them rebuild, Schmidt, who is an insurance agent, said that doesn’t come instantly. The equipment and gear being donated will hold them over until it does.

“I’m sure Asheville was not prepared for something like this,” he said. “It will be months, if not years, before they fully recover from this.”