Eleuthera Supply and Training Mission
The small fishing and farming village of Gregory Town, Eleuthera (Bahamas).
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Click picture for close up view
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Eleuthera 2006
Approximately 15 years ago, the small fishing and farming village of Gregory Town, Eleuthera (Bahamas), lost two families to devastating fires in a short period. As with most countries, the democratically elected government of the Bahamas could not afford to supply fire fighting services to every small village and town. A number of the men in Gregory Town came to the United States, bought a used fire truck, shipped it to the island and formed a volunteer fire department. That fire truck is no longer operational and therefore, the town was back to having no fire protection.
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Apparatus
In 2004 the Fire Chief from Gregory Town approached F.R.D.P. to ask for our help in locating a fire engine for them.
On 15 December 2005 the Hampton Township New Jersey Fire and Rescue Department (USA), donated a 1982 GMC Mini-Pumper to F.R.D.P. to be sent to Gregory Town. Subsequently F.R.D.P. organized a mission to deliver the pumper and train the firefighters of Eleuthera. The pumper was delivered in April 2006 fully equiped with hose, nozzles, self-contained breathing packs, turnout coats, boots and helmets. Upon its arrival in Gregory Town it was completly functional and immediately put into service.
The pumper was delivered in April 2006 by Chief Joseph Warner (USA), head of the F.R.E.E. Project. After officially turning the pumper over to the town officials Chief Warner spent one week in Gregory Town to instruct the men in the proper operation of the fire truck and to teach basic firefighting and rescue skills. On the day of Chief Warner's departure the pumper responded to a structure fire and the Eleuthera firefighters were successful in extinguishing the blaze. Had this pumper not been delivered, yet another home would have been lost to fire on this tropical island.
F.R.D.P. would like to thank the Rotary Clubs of: Goshen, Rhinebeck, Blooming Grove-Washingtonville of Rotary International Districy 7210 of New York State (USA) for its assistance in covering many of the costs connected with the delivery of the pumper.
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Eleuthera 1-2
Mini Pumper.
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Eleuthera 1-3
Mini Pumper.
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Eleuthera 1-4
Mini Pumper.
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Eleuthera 1-5
Chief Warner Arrives in Eleuthera
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Eleuthera 1-6
Thank You Rotary
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Eleuthera 1-7
Old Apparatus
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Eleuthera 1-8
Town Officials gather for Hand-over Ceremony
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Eleuthera 1-9
Chief Warner handing-over the keys
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Eleuthera 1-10
Town People Celebrate
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Eleuthera 1-11
Down to Business. Chief Warner conducts training
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Eleuthera 1-12
Pumper Training
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Eleuthera 1-13
Chief Warner with the Local Firefighters
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