Retired Glendale fire truck will help training of Cincy State Fire Service students

The Village of Glendale has donated a pumper fire truck to the Cincinnati State Fire Service Technology (FST) program that will provide hands-on training for the next generation of firefighters.

The pumper is no longer rated for active firefighting duty because of its age but remains in excellent condition.

“This truck served the village of Glendale for more than 25 years, and there’s plenty of life left in it,” said Scott Lerman, Chief of the Glendale Fire Department. “It’s going to serve the students at Cincinnati State for many years to come.”

Lerman said the donation reflects a strong partnership between the department and Cincinnati State’s degree program.

“There is a nationwide shortage of firefighters, and it’s no different in Greater Cincinnati,” Lerman said. “Programs such as Cincinnati State help funnel young recruits into the fire service. For students to be able to work with an actual truck helps a lot with their training, and this is the kind of truck they would see if they join a fire department.”

Cincinnati State President Monica Posey said equipment donations like the Glendale truck strengthen the College’s ability to prepare students for careers in public safety.

“A donation like this truck is wonderful for the Fire Services program,” Dr. Posey said. “It supports high-quality instruction and also helps attract new students who can see firsthand the opportunities available to them.”

The truck will also support the program’s live-fire training exercises that take place each semester at the City of Cincinnati fire training facility.

“We needed a second functioning pump truck to replace a truck that was no longer operational for our live fire operations,” said Bill Mehbod, Program Chair for the Fire Services program.

Mehbod said students attend classroom instruction two days each week and spend two additional days in lab training, practicing skills using real firefighting equipment.

Glendale, located just north of Cincinnati, is a historic village known for its Victorian homes. The Glendale Fire Department was established in 1890 and today an ISO Class 2 volunteer department with about 50 firefighters.

The donation was made possible through support from the Christ Church Glendale William Cooper Procter Memorial Fund.

“Christ Church has a long connection to the Glendale Fire Department, going back to its founding,” said the Rev. David Pfaff, rector of Christ Church Glendale, speaking on behalf of the fund. “We wanted to see the truck continue to have a useful and productive life.”

Glendale Mayor Michael Besl said the gift reflects the long-standing relationship between the village and Cincinnati State’s Fire Services program.

“Many Cincinnati State Fire Services students often become our recruits as volunteers, where they gain hands-on experience working with our department,” Besl said. “This donation helps further their education at the College.”

(Reporting by Richard Curtis, Cincinnati State Media Coordinator)