Western Pennsylvania fire departments unite to help tornado victims in Kentucky

Crescent Township — It’s a big room inside a small fire department in Allegheny County.

“Canned goods, nonperishables, toiletries, clothing; kid’s, adults, women’s clothing,” said John Kriger, Assistant Fire Chief at Crescent Township.

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You name it, and it’s arriving at the Crescent Township Volunteer Fire Department for one cause.

“It’s in our blood, we are firefighters. We understand what devastation is. If it had happened up this way, they would do the same. It’s a brotherhood, it’s just something that we do,” Kriger said.

Kriger, along with other firefighters, are personally driving all these items to Kentucky to help the tornado survivors, and the outpouring of support has been overwhelming.

He says that even though many people are on tight incomes, they are still donating money and items to the cause.

Now the department is partnering with two Beaver County fire departments to get as much as they can to take on the journey.

Kriger said they are prepared to take a full tractor-trailer if the community steps up, but the biggest need is toys.

“Toys for the kids, they aren’t going to have any Christmas. Dogs are survivors, but little kids need a Christmas toy, they may not have understood what happened,” Kriger said.

The group will be accepting donations through Sunday at the fire department in Crescent Township from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

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