Carteret, NJ – Mayor Daniel J. Reiman and Fire Committee Chairman Councilman Randy Krum joined Fire Chief Mark Hruska to announce the Borough of Carteret’s donation of two fire trucks to the Municipality of Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. The donation was unanimously approved by the Carteret Borough Council.
“The Borough Council and I are proud to extend this donation to hurricane-ravaged Guaynabo, where these vehicles will be used in active rescue service,” said Mayor Reiman. “Two of our older trucks were recently replaced by newer models thanks to a pass through grant from the NYNJPA that was funded by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.”
The trucks include a 2001 American Lafrance 2000 GPM six-man cab rescue pumper and a 1998 100′ American LaFrance tower ladder six-man cab ladder truck. The trucks have not been used in service since being replaced by a 2015 Pierce Arrow pumper and a 2015 Pierce Arrow ladder truck in 2016. Since that time they have been in storage in Pennsylvania at an emergency vehicle resale and retrofit center.
“Initially we were hoping to sell the vehicles, but to date the only offer has been for scrap value; while these vehicles are older, they still have years of service left in them,” said Mayor Reiman. “In fact, if we hadn’t solicited and received the federal grant, they would still be in use here in Carteret.”
Under state law Mayor Reiman and the Borough Council are permitted to donate unused equipment to other American towns . The vehicles will be shipped to Puerto Rico via cargo ship. A fundraiser will be held May 10th from 4-8 pm at the Thomas J. Deverin Community Center at 100 Cooke Avenue in Carteret to raise money to cover the cost of transport. The event will feature authentic Puerto Rican dancers, food, and refreshments. There will be no cover charge but residents are encouraged to donate what they can afford.
In September, Mayor Reiman and the Carteret Public Library organized the Carteret Cares Natural Disasters Relief Drive, which raised $3,750, along with clothing, pallets of water, and other needed items for storm-ravaged areas including Puerto Rico, Texas, Florida and Mexico. The Mayor’s Charity Trust Fund also contributed $5,000 toward relief efforts.
