Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Serving Lincoln County for more than a century!
Airway Heights donates 2001 apparatus
Fire District No. 7 near Wilbur was the recipient of a fire truck gifted by the Airway Heights Fire Department. Pictured (L to R) Airway Heights Fire Department Chief Mitch Metzger, Airway Heights Fire Department Assistant Chief Nate Whannell and Lincoln County Fire Protection District No. 7 Chief Shayne Lewis.
WILBUR – The donation of a fire truck to the fire district that serves the Wilbur area will replace an outdated vehicle in the district's fleet.
The 2001 Central States truck donated by the Airway Heights Fire Department has replaced an outdated 1968 engine Fire District No. 7 was using. The newer truck is a welcome upgrade, especially in light of the challenges with the Whitney fire this fall. The fire that started Labor Day weekend consumed over 120,000 acres in Lincoln County, including several structures.
The truck was delivered to the fire station in Wilbur Nov. 25, giving local firefighters a reason to be grateful the day before Thanksgiving. Fire Chief Mitch Metzger and Assistant Fire Chief Nate Whannell were among the crew that came from Airway Heights.
"It's incredible, the amount of support from surrounding communities," Fire District No. 7 Chief Shayne Lewis said. "It really makes a difference when everyone can come together and get something done."
After delivering the truck and chatting with local firefighters and fire commissioners, the department and Lewis enjoyed lunch at Billy Burger Drive In. Grateful for the gift to the community, the restaurant provided the firefighters' meal on the house.
Lewis said the district has received much community support following the Whitney Fire in September that engulfed tens of thousands of acres in Lincoln County, including a new truck at the station in Lincoln.
"We've been getting a lot of donations for safety products," Lewis said. "We did have quite a bit of damage from the Whitney Road fire, so the donations have allowed us to make much needed repairs to trucks."
Truck gifted after Wilbur submitted bid
The Airway Heights city council originally elected to surplus the truck in April 2019. It then went to state auction for nine months and didn't receive any bids, Metzger said.
"It had been at the waste treatment facility and we were prepared to send it to another auction," Metzger related.
Fire District No. 7 then expressed interest and put forth a bid of $1,500.
"We found out a couple weeks ago that it was up for sale from one of our department members," Lewis said. "His son-in-law is actually on the Airway Heights department and let us know it was up for sale...we contacted them, put in an offer (while) hoping it wouldn't be too low and that they would sell it to somebody else."
Metzger brought the offer to council and presented options of either accepting the $1,500 bid or taking the chance of sending the truck to public auction. At auction, the truck could have netted up to $5,000 minus a 10% service fee, but could've also had the highest bid of less than $1,500.
During Metzger's presentation to council, councilmember Doyle Inman presented a third option.
"I'd like to make a motion that instead of taking the $1,500, we donate the truck," Inman said.
Many councilmembers agreed, and Metzger was asked whether the fire department needed the income.
Metzger noted that it would just go to a reserve fund, so the income wasn't imminently needed, and a unanimous motion was enthusiastically passed. Mayor Kevin Richey also voiced his support for the donation, and a pleased Metzger phoned Lewis on the spot to deliver the news of the gift.
The truck was delivered to the fire station in Wilbur Nov. 25, giving local firefighters a reason to be grateful the day before Thanksgiving. Metzger and assistant fire chief Nate Whannell was among the crew that came from Airway Heights.
"It's incredible, the amount of support from surrounding communities," Fire District No. 7 Chief Shayne Lewis said. "It really makes a difference when everyone can come together and get something done."
The 2001 Central States truck replaced a retro, but outdated 1968 engine Fire District No. 7 was using in Wilbur.
After delivering the truck and chatting with local firefighters and fire commissioners, the department and Lewis enjoyed lunch at Billy Burger Drive In. Grateful for the gift to the community, the restaurant provided the firefighters' meal on the house.
Lewis said the district has received much community support following the Whitney Fire in September that engulfed tens of thousands of acres in Lincoln County, including a new truck at the station in Lincoln.
"We've been getting a lot of donations for safety products," Lewis said. "We did have quite a bit of damage from the Whitney Road fire, so the donations have allowed us to make much needed repairs to trucks."
Drew Lawson can be reached at drew@cheneyfreepress.com.
Drew Lawson is the editor of the Davenport Times. He is a graduate of Eastern Washington University.
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