Goodman Gifted Truck From An Illinois Department

Photo courtesy of the Breese Journal Breese (Ill.) Fire Chief Bob Wuest presents the keys to the 1989 FMC rescue pumper to Goodman Fire Chief Keith Estes. Breese recently replaced the 1989 rescue pumper with a 2017 KME rescue pumper, which was put into service two weeks ago. Those on hand for the presention include, left: Bud Gilmore of the Goodman Fire Protection District Board; Andy Huelsmann of the Breese Fire Protection District Board; Goodman Fireman Kent Hartman, Goodman Fire Chief Keith Estes, Breese Fire Chief Bob Wuest, Breese fireman Curt Weh and fireman Ryan Weh holding his daughter Lena.
Photo courtesy of the Breese Journal Breese (Ill.) Fire Chief Bob Wuest presents the keys to the 1989 FMC rescue pumper to Goodman Fire Chief Keith Estes. Breese recently replaced the 1989 rescue pumper with a 2017 KME rescue pumper, which was put into service two weeks ago. Those on hand for the presention include, left: Bud Gilmore of the Goodman Fire Protection District Board; Andy Huelsmann of the Breese Fire Protection District Board; Goodman Fireman Kent Hartman, Goodman Fire Chief Keith Estes, Breese Fire Chief Bob Wuest, Breese fireman Curt Weh and fireman Ryan Weh holding his daughter Lena.

A tornado that ripped through Goodman in April left a devastating effect on the local fire department, but an Illinois firefighting crew has stepped up to help their new friends to the southwest.

Firefighting crews tend to take care of their own, and certainly like to pass along supplies and equipment that can have good life elsewhere, said Goodman Area Fire Protection District Fire Chief Keith Estes.

So when the Breese Fire District in Breese, Ill., offered to give the Goodman crew a 1989 pumper truck, it was an offer they couldn't refuse.

"I had never heard of the community before," Estes admitted, adding that "perfect strangers" gave such a generous donation: "It's pretty amazing."

A little more than a month ago, some of the Goodman crew members made the 300-mile trek to Breese, which is 60 miles east of St. Louis.

After accepting the donation and having photos made with the Breese crew, the Goodman crew drove the fire truck to its new home.

The Breese Fire Department had been preparing to retire its 1989 pumper truck after a newer one joining the operation. Crew members had discussed making certain that the truck ended up in good hands, as it has many more years of life and can serve as useful equipment for another department.

One of the Breese crew members discussed hearing how hard the Goodman community was hit by an EF-2 tornado in early April.

The idea was born.

From there, the crew and Board of Directors came to an agreement and voted to donate the truck to Goodman.

"There had been some questions as to what to do with the truck before learning about our situation," Estes said. "They wanted it to go somewhere, stay in service and be useful."

Crew members contacted the McDonald County Emergency Management Agency office and asked for Goodman's contact information. Estes received a call that this fire crew -- located more than five hours away in Illinois -- wanted to donate a fire truck.

The existing Goodman fire trucks will need repairs incurred by the tornado, Estes said. Several, buried under collapsed buildings, literally were dug out and will require some work.

In addition to rebuilding the station in Goodman, the Goodman department is also building a new station in Splitlog. When that station is up and running , a fire truck will be needed there as well.

The weather has played a major part in the Splitlog construction and Estes hesitated to say when the fire station would be completed. The April tornado and recent flooding have added to the delay. However, crews are getting ready to start dirt work, he added.

The donated pumper truck, still in very good shape, will definitely serve a need and bridge the gap before moving it to the Splitlog station.

"We are very happy to have that truck," Estes said. "We hope we will build a lasting relationship with that community."

General News on 05/18/2017