FY2012 Arlington Fire Department Annual Report FY 2012 | Page 22

Page 22

AFD helps Texas Ranger Nelson Cruz donate
a fire truck to his hometown.
On June 16 of this year, the Fire Chief from Nelson
Cruz’s hometown, General Luis Esmurdoc, was visiting
Cruz and was attended a Rangers game at the Ballpark.
In Cruz’s hometown of
Las Matas de Santa Cruz, Dominican Republic, the fire protection is
provided by the military. General Esmurdoc is a general in the military
and volunteers as the Fire Chief for a very small wage. While at the
game, the General asked to speak to someone in the Arlington Fire
Department. He was connected to the Ballpark Commander, who
requested that Battalion III respond to the Ballpark in order to spend a
respectful amount of time with the General. Battalion Chief Bill
McQuatters was working Battalion III that day. Chief McQuatters quickly
developed a rapport with General Esmurdoc with the assistance of
Lieutenant Pete Arevalo and Firefighters Joel Lopez and Edwin Martinez,
who served as translators.
The General explained to Chief McQuatters that Nelson Cruz wanted to donate a fire truck to his
hometown department and asked if the Arlington Fire Department could assist in making the generous
offer a reality. Chief McQuatters assured him the AFD would do everything possible to make it happen.
With Chief Crowson’s approval, Chief McQuatters reached out to Captain Don Gibson and Battalion
Chief Brian Cudaback for their expertise in apparatus purchasing. They referred him to Brindlee
Mountain Fire Apparatus Company in Union Grove, Alabama. Brindlee Mountain is a fire apparatus
reseller that buys older and retired fire vehicles, refurbishes and sells them. They were very eager to be
part of this opportunity.
Chief Crowson then contacted the City’s ambulance provider, American Medical Response (AMR), to
request their participation. They also were eager to be part of the event and quickly agreed to donate
not one, but two retired ambulances. Additionally, AMR reached out to other potential corporate
sponsors. Their apparatus manufacturer, American Emergency Vehicles and Physio-Control, maker of
our AEDs, both offered cash donations to assist with shipping the vehicles to the Dominican Republic.
The newly painted fire truck and the ambulances were presented to General Esmurdoc at a Texas
Rangers Baseball game.

DUTY

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HONOR

Working Together to Make Arlington Better.

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COMPASSION
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EXCELLENCE