Los Fresnos FD Donates Equipment to Matamoros Counterparts

by Tony Vindell/LFN

The Los Fresnos Voluntary Fire Department donated thousands of dollars in equipment to their counterparts from Matamoros, Mexico.

The donation included a brush truck, a boat and dozens of pieces of equipment used to combat fire and accidents and other emergency situations that would require equipment like the jaws of life.

LFFD and Matamoros officials met on Jan. 5 here in Los Fresnos to make the donation official.

Chief Gene Daniels put the cost of the used equipment at about $40,000.

In contrast, just a brand new brush truck costs about $80,000.

Daniels said they were glad to assist the Matamoros FD.

Ellison Crider, governor with the Rotary Club District 5930, said getting the two departments together is something they don’t see every day and it’s something they would like to see happen more often.

He said the Rotary Club has a theme every year. The new theme is “Rotary Connects the World,” Crider added.

Miguel Treviño, a Matamoros Rotarian and president of the city Chamber of Industries, thanked the LFFD for the donation, which he said will help the MFD.

Treviño said the MFD does not have enough equipment, adding what they have today is in poor condition.

He said the department has 50 firefighters in a city of more than 600,000 people.

By contrast, LFD has 35 volunteer firefighters in a city of about 7,000 people.