Cedar Hammock and North River Fire donate equipment to MTC
(Bradenton, FL—July 29, 2015) Cedar Hammock Fire Rescue donated a fire engine and North River Fire District donated a driving simulator to the Manatee School District at the July 28 board meeting for use by Manatee Technical College.
Doug Wagner, Director of Adult Career and Technical Education and Manatee Technical College, and Henry Sheffield, Coordinator of MTC’s Fire Science programs, recognized Cedar Hammock Fire Rescue and North River Fire District during the meeting. “They were very generous donations,” said Wagner. “It is industry support like this that makes MTC so great.”
Cedar Hammock’s board voted to donate the 1995 Pierce Sabre Fire Engine to the school after they bought two new ones. The computerized Pierce engine replaces a 1976 Mack fire engine at MTC.
North River donated a computer-operated driving simulator that simulates driving fire trucks, ambulances and buses. MTC will use the simulator in both its Fire Science and Emergency Medical programs. The School District plans to use the simulator for bus driver training.
“We are going to be able to train our fire fighters and emergency drivers with state-of-the-art equipment,” said Sheffield, referring to both the engine and the simulator. “We will be able to train in a non-risk environment on that simulator.”
PHOTOS: Officials from both fire departments posed for photos with the School Board members in front of the engine prior to the start of the July 28 board meeting. Pictured (L to R) alongside the fire engine Cedar Hammock donated to Manatee Technical College are MTC fire science lead instructor Steve Trompke, Cedar Hammock Fire Division Chiefs Alex Lobeto and Mike DeChelbor, Charlie Kennedy, Bob Gause, Dr. Diana Greene, Karen Carpenter, David Miner, Cedar Hammock Fire Chief Jeff Hoyle, and Cedar Hammock Fire Commissioner Tom Flynn. Pictured (L to R) in front of the engine are North River Fire Chief Mike Rampino, Charlie Kennedy, Bob Gause, Doug Wagner, Dr. Diana Greene, David Miner, Karen Carpenter and North River Fire Training Officer Jeff Dirling.
