BUCYRUS — A response to the call of duty by the Bucyrus Fire Department caused a chain reaction among local agencies, with the end goal of helping the local community as much as possible.
BFD firefighters recently responded to an electrical outlet that was sparking at the Bucyrus Walmart. As a thank you for the quick and effective response, Walmart presented the department with a local community grant for $2,500.
Then came the question of how to spend the money.
“We received the money locally, so we were going to spend the money locally,” BFD Lt. Eric McNutt said.
McNutt and firefighter/paramedic Rob Meredith went to E&H Ace Hardware on S. Sandusky Ave. in Bucyrus to buy new equipment for a new fire engine the city is purchasing, and other updates to equipment McNutt said would otherwise not be a priority for the department to use its budget for.
Some items purchased included two new Stihl chainsaws, a Stihl rotary saw, a Milwaukee drill and saw kit and some upgraded lithium batteries for various hand tools.
The thoughtfulness of local helping local continued as discounts and rebates were found and provided to allow more bang for the buck.
E&H Ace Hardware store manager Greg Loney said Stihl provides a governmental grant for agencies such as fire departments, schools, city and village municipalities and others. ACE Hardware also provided rebates on various items.
McNutt said it allowed the department to purchase a couple hundred dollars’ worth of products from the store.
Loney said the chain of events shows an outstanding partnership between the different organizations.
“It’s an incredible partnership, not just with the local community, but with a national organization like Walmart and a national organization like ACE,” Loney said. “To see those two organizations come together and provide a service like this is just incredible.”
Both Loney and McNutt said the biggest highlight of the transactions is the end result of the department having the necessary equipment to respond to others in need in the community.
