The Salina City Commission has approved the donation of a fire engine to Salina Area Technical College. During their August 26, 2024 meeting, commissioners voted unanimously to authorize City Manager Mike Schrage to sign an agreement donating Engine 6 to the college.
Battalion Chief Derrick Herzog explained that the donated engine is a 1989 Pierce custom fire engine currently in reserve status. The donation aims to support Salina Area Technical College's growing fire science program.
Brenda Gutierrez, Executive Director of the Salina Area Technical College Foundation, addressed the commission about the donation. Gutierrez stated that the fire science program currently has three post-secondary students and 11 high school students. The program has been on the Salina Tech campus for three years, having moved from USD 305 facilities previously.
Chief Herzog noted that donating the engine presents opportunities and benefits for both the college and the community. It will provide a training resource for students, allowing them to familiarize themselves with actual fire equipment and procedures they will encounter in their professional careers.
The fire department currently assists with training Salina Area Tech EMT students and provides internships. Herzog expressed a goal to offer similar internship experiences to fire science students, potentially aiding in recruitment for future employees.
If the engine had not been donated, it would have been listed for sale through a broker, with an estimated value of approximately $25,000.
This donation follows a similar action in 2021 when the City Commission authorized the donation of a 1994 75-foot Quint fire apparatus to Salina Area Technical College.
The commission's decision to donate the fire engine aligns with ongoing efforts to strengthen the relationship between the city and local educational institutions, including Salina Area Technical College, Kansas State University Salina, and Kansas Wesleyan University.
