Rochester Fire chief meets Kentucky chief who received donated tanker

Mar 4, 2022

WORCESTER — When a tornado devastated Cayce, Ky. last year and destroyed the home and apparatus of their fire department, Rochester Fire Department stepped in by donating a tanker truck.

On Wednesday, March 2, Cayce Fire Chief Wade Adams had the chance to meet Rochester Fire Chief Scott Weigel and Lt. Kevin Richard in Worcester for the first time in person at The Fire Chiefs Association of Massachusetts (FCAM) conference.

Chief Adams also met Fire Chiefs Association of Massachusetts President Michael Winn. The association reached out to the communities in western Kentucky last year offering assistance after the tornado struck.

Adams informed the association that his department could use a tanker. Chief Weigel and the Rochester Fire Department then stepped in to donate a 3,000-gallon 1988 FMC tanker/pumper that was in the department's reserve fleet and a large diameter hose.

"Words can't begin to express our department's gratitude to the Rochester Fire Department for their generous donation that helped us in rebuilding our fleet following the devastation left by the tornado that struck our town," Adams said. "I'm grateful that I had the opportunity to visit Massachusetts and attend the FCAM conference as it gave me the chance to say thank you to Chief Weigel and Chief Winn in person."

"Upon learning of the devastation that occurred in Kentucky and the impact it had on the Cayce Fire Department, we immediately assessed ways in which our department could assist them in their recovery efforts," Chief Weigel said. "With the support of the Rochester Select Board and FCAM, we were able to release one of our reserve apparatus to help the Cayce Fire Department rebuild their fleet. Having the opportunity to meet Chief Adams at the FCAM conference and hear the ways in which the tanker assisted his department was truly an amazing opportunity."

“At the end of the day, the fire service is all about helping one another and that’s exactly what we did,’’ Winn said.