05/11/2022
City of Miami PRESS RELEASE:
Community rallies to ‘Save the Seagrave’ Miami Firetruck
(MIAMI, OK.) The community rallied together to raise funds to ‘Save the Seagrave,’ to restore Miami’s 1949 antique Seagrave Pumper No. 6 Firetruck. Miami Firefighters and friends brought in a grand total of $11,091 during three fundraisers thanks to a supportive community. Another $2,000 will soon be added through a grant.
During the first fundraiser last month, firefighters and volunteers cooked and served over 500 smoked chicken and pulled pork lunches and raised $7,000. The event turned into a reunion of sorts with many retired firefighters showing up to lend a hand and share stories of polishing the firetruck until it shined and being on duty on the vehicle.
A Facebook auction brought in $3,438, and t-shirt sales added another $1,190 to the cause.
Also, a $2,000 grant has been awarded for the project from State Farm’s Good Neighbor Citizenship Grant, thanks to local State Farm Agent/Owner Nate Long who sponsored the request to go toward the overall $15,000 fundraising goal.
“The support of the community has been amazing,” Miami Fire Chief Robert Wright said. “We are grateful for all the donations, volunteers and community members who helped us with this project. The community showed up in a big way buying lunches and bidding on auction items.”
Wright said Miami Fire Department Administrative Assistant Amy Bass kept the fundraisers organized and she went above and beyond to help make the event successful.
Miami Firefighters and friends are working to save the 73-year-old antique firetruck and restore it for use by the department for parades and other events. The Firefighters have used the funds so far to purchase a chassis for $6,500, to replace the old chassis to make the vehicle more drivable.
Chief Wright and Bass said the project and events could not have been possible without generous donations for the lunch event including donor Jerry Coach, Nick Hofshulte donated the hog, Tyson and Simmons donated chicken, Miami Walmart donated $300, Harp’s donated coleslaw, Head Country donated BBQ sauce and rub, Miami Pizza Hut donated cups and forks, Little Debbie donated snack cakes, and juice and lemonade was donated by Refresco.
Wright and Bass said several community members and City of Miami staff volunteered to help at the lunch including; Miami Firefighters cooked, Amy Bass organized the event, Drama/Speech/Debate Miami High School students and sponsor Kaylea Hutson-Miller served, City of Miami’s Parks and Facility/Maintenance departments delivered lunches and set up and cleaned the civic center and kitchen, retired firefighter Gary Reynolds cooked the hog, others volunteered help including Jerry Coach, Ben and Barbara Loring, Sherrie Spillers, retired firefighter Glenn Edwards, Molly Olson and Melinda Stotts.
Perry’s Towing brought the 1949 Seagrave firetruck to the Civic Center for the event and towed the truck back to the Miami South Fire Station.
Auction items were generously donated by Jerry Coach, Metal Fab, Hopkins, Buffalo Run Casino, Indigo Sky Casino, Harp’s Auto, Brent Judd Tree Service, Debbie East, Martha Jordan, El Vallarta, Waylon’s KuKu, Karnes Pro Tire, and Peoria Ridge Golf Course.
Donations can still be made to the Save the Seagrave project at the Miami North Fire Station or by sending a check to the Miami Fire Department, 103 Goodrich Boulevard, Miami, Ok. 74354.
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