|
Dear Citizen of Temple,
It was the fall of 1948. A fire raged through the wooded Spofford Gap area of town. Men from Temple and the surrounding towns fought the fire for 6 full days, taking only short reaks for rest and nourishment. Their equipment consisted of 5-gallon tanks they wore on their backs. Hundreds of acres of woodlands were lost but luckily no lives. The monetary cost to the town was so great that special dispensation by our state legislature was granted allowing the town many years to pay back the debt. It is the spring of 2002. Precipitation for the last 12 months is 18” below average. The water table is exceedingly low. And 82% of the land in Temple – YOUR LAND and TOWN CONSERVATION LAND – is in current use. Go outside and look around. Fields and forests surround us. These fields and forests are the homes to countless animals, areas of outdoor recreation, as well as being key to the beauty and serenity of the place we call home. As more of these lands are opened for public use, the risk of accidental fire becomes more and more likely. And we stilil have nothinig but 5-gallon tanks for the TVFD to wear on their backs to protect our land, our way of life. Do you want to rely on this kind of “technology” plus luck in 2002 to protect our land and our firefighters? The town has given the TVFD the old town truck that can be equipped to fight forest and field fires efficiently and safely. The equipment needed for the truck will cost approximately $35,000. Let’s
rely on preparedness in 2002 and beyond instead of luck. We need your monetary help today to avoid the risk of a fire destroying not just our fields and forests but putting us in a debt situation to another government agency or risking injury to one of our voluntary firemen. Some very generous donations have already started us on our way. Please give whatever tax-deductible donation you can to help us be prepared for fire in our forests and fields. PRINT THIS PAGE (from your browser File/Print) TEAR OFF THE FORM BELOW & SEND TO:
Temple Volunteer Fire Department
Please
accept my generous donation of $_________________. Although I am unable to make a monetary donation at this time, I am interested in helping however I can. Please contact me ___________________________________.
Thanks for all your help. Will Wildes Chief,
Temple Volunteer Fire Department |