01-05-2025
Loving Giving Local: Belle Valley Fire Department
For more than 85 years, the Belle Valley Volunteer Fire Department has been serving part of Millcreek Township. It is this week's recipient of $250 from JET24/FOX66 Loving Giving Local and Auto Express.
Fire Chief Jeremy Moreland said the department will use the funding for the daily bills.
'Gas, electric, all that good stuff. Any rig maintenance it could be used for,' he said.
Orange fire trucks are a signature of the Belle Valley Fire Department. The volunteers and equipment of Belle Valley supplement the newly created paid Millcreek fire department.
Belle Valley covers a diverse region of Erie County that includes everything from residential and industrial buildings to high rises and farms.
Chief Moreland is a homeowner and a parent and has been a volunteer for 16 years. Here's why.
'When the calls come out and nobody shows up what are you going to do? So, I always wanted to help any way I can. This was the best thing I could do, and I love doing it,' he said.
Some Belle Valley equipment is brand new. Some of it is aging, just like some of the volunteers, the chief said.
'I have two volunteers here that have been volunteering for 50 plus years. So, the number of volunteers are age age-oriented, where they're older than younger, so we need more younger volunteers. It's a very good thing for the community to do,' he explained.
Like so many other volunteer fire departments, Belle Valley can use more volunteers. If that's something that interests you, here's what you need to know.
'Go to any of the volunteer fire departments and put in an application. They'll send you for a physical and background check. And once you pass all that, you'll start taking classes. Nothing comes out of your pocket other than your time. It's a lot of time invested in this, but it's an awesome thing to be a part of,' Chief Moreland suggested.
Following his donation, Joe Askins of Auto Express said, 'Volunteer fire departments are needed in our community and for us to be able to deliver Loving Giving Local to Belle Valley who has been in our community for over 85 years, we know there's a big expense to run fire department and we know any donation we bring to a local volunteer fire department always stays in the community and come to great use.'
Every week, JET 24/FOX66 and Auto Express present $250 to a local non-profit organization, selected at random. Watch Good Morning Erie on JET 24 or Good Day Erie on FOX 66 Wednesday morning to see who the next lucky winner will be.
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