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AFD helps Texas Ranger Lance Berkman donate a fire truck to West , Texas
Rangers designated hitter Lance Berkman hasn ’ t lived in the Waco area since he was about six years old , but when he heard of the devastation and heartache wrought by the fertilizer plant explosion in West , he told team officials he wanted to help .
Rangers staffers contacted West and learned that the city needed a fire truck and firefighting gear to replace what was lost in the April 17 blast that killed 15 people and injured more than 200 . Berkman was on board with the idea immediately . The truck , which Arlington Fire Department Battalion Chief Bill McQuatters procured through a vendor , has Berkman ’ s name and jersey number 27 on the door . McQuatters said the vendor , Union Grove , Alabama based Brindlee Mountain Fire Apparatus , was the same one the department used last year to help outfielder Nelson Cruz donate a fire truck and ambulance to his hometown . “ It runs well . It pumps well ,” he said . “ We got it here and polished it up . It will be a good truck for them .”
The Fire Department is donating nozzles , debris hooks , an axe , and at Berkman ’ s request , is looking into air packs that he would also donate . McQuatters said it was easier to procure this truck than the highly specific one needed in Nelson Cruz ’ s Dominican Republic hometown , where there are no fire hydrants and the roads are often unpaved . “ Hopefully we can do more ” of these kinds of donations , he said .
Berkman presented the refurbished white and red pumper to city officials of West , Texas on Saturday . July 5 , 2013 , just before the Rangers versus Houston Astros game .
Another Successful Muscular Dystrophy Association Fill the Boot Campaign
FY2013 was another successful year for the AFD / APFF / MDA partnership . For the past five years , this joint effort has continued to increase the amount of money raised by our members for MDA ’ s Fill the Boot campaign . This year , thanks to everyone who participated , we raised more money than 2009 , 2010 , and 2011 combined . Congratulations to the crews from 9-A for collecting more than $ 12,000 , 7-B for collecting $ 8,000 and 7-A for collecting $ 6,000 . The 2013 effort raised a total of $ 67,283 . The money raised helps over 190 children attend MDA summer camp in Texas and also helps to fund 19 MDA clinics in Texas . One of these clinics , Neurology Associates of Arlington , is located in our city .
DUTY / HONOR / COMPASSION / EXCELLENCE
Working Together to Make Arlington Better .
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