Washington fire department receives big donation

WASHINGTON — An organization called the Brinton Trust — named for the moviemaking family painted on the side of the State Theater — has donated $17,000 to the Washington Fire Department for a new rescue boat, representatives from the group and city say.

Fire Chief Brendan DeLong said the current rescue vehicle needed an upgrade, with another firefighter describing it as a “40-year-old fishing boat.” While the vessel is rarely used, it is sometimes deployed to mutual aid calls, especially around Lake Darling in Brighton.

“(It’s not used) often, but when you need it, you need it,” DeLong said. “It’s got to be available, I would say, once, maybe twice a year … this boat’s not just going to benefit the citizens of Washington. It’s going to benefit other departments too, it’s going to benefit our mutual aid partners.”

The five-figure donation covers the full cost of the boat, although DeLong said the department would likely spend a little extra on specialized equipment to outfit it.

Brinton Trust President Mike Moore said he was happy to see the money supporting a local cause.

“Unlike what the Riverboat (Foundation) does with the big money, we’re more smaller money,” he said. “All these projects, whether it’s for us or for Riverside, try and support the community and build a stronger community. That’s what we hope to do.”

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