$5,000 goes to fire truck

RANGELY I Natural gas gathering company Summit Midstream Partners made a $5,000 donation last week toward the purchase of two new fire trucks for the Rangely Rural Fire Protection District (RRFPD). The donation was made in memory of Summit Midstream plant operator Tom Gough’s 12-year-old son Collin, who passed away last June. Gough, along with director of operations for the Rockies Rick Smith and vice president of operations Joe Velasquez, gave the check to RRFPD fire chief Andy Shaffer Tuesday, April 9.
“Summit Midstream has really let us know that they care for the community and our fire department,” Shaffer said.
Smith requested the funding from Summit Midstream President Steve Newby last summer, who approved the donation. Newby requested, however, that the money be given in honor of Collin.
“When that comes down from our president…it’s a pretty neat deal to know we have a guy running our company who thinks of things like that,” Smith said.
Gough said he was deeply appreciative of the gesture and was impressed with the friendliness of the fire department volunteers. After giving the donation, he, Smith, and Velasquez rode in the first of the new fire trucks to arrive last month, a Rosenbauer tanker/pumper.
Summit Midstream has facilities on Highways 40, 64, and 139, said Shaffer, who works for the company. RRFPD is a first responder to those sites.
Shaffer and two other firefighters visited the Rosenbauer plant in Sioux Falls, S.D., last week for a midpoint inspection on the department’s ladder truck, scheduled to arrive in May.