MEDE – The slogan was «Help us make our dream come true».
Now that it has become reality it was obvious to thank everyone on Sunday morning in Piazza Repubblica in Mede. On this occasion the association 115 Friends of the Lomellina Sud firefighters which supports the detachment of the Mede volunteer firefighters (led by Alex Morandi) presented the new tanker.
Two years ago, on May 8, 2022, the new pump-tank car was inaugurated.
A vehicle which, together with the van donated by Mrs Anna Maria Argenton (widow of the former mayor of Mede, Renato Bertolino) has already had several hundred interventions under its belt. Now it’s the turn of this new vehicle, essential for the detachment and the seventeen municipalities under its jurisdiction.
“With the same slogan and with the same enthusiasm – says Gianluca Galli, president of 115, a company that has existed for 13 years – in the first months of 2022 we started the project relating to the purchase of the new tanker, which has just been presented. The need was real, given that the previous one supplied to the Mede detachment was from 1991 and in May 2020 it had ceased its service due to technical problems. The Pavia Command was unable to replace it, certainly not due to ill will, but due to a lack of supplies on the part of the Ministry of the Interior. Therefore, for almost four years our territory remained without this type of vehicle, which is indispensable when the intervention requires a large quantity of water. The cost of a new tanker, also in light of the price increases, had reached around 210 thousand euros. The figure was frightening.”
The support for this “project of the whole territory for the good of the territory” came from the Region through tenders, from many businesses and from citizens through their offers. Furthermore, another association similar to 115 collaborated, the «Amis de Pumpier de Meraa» which supports the detachment of the volunteer firefighters of Merate, in the Lecco area. The 115 association will reciprocate, supporting them in the next tenders.
“For full coverage – continues Galli – we have opened a five-year loan of 70 thousand euros. We are sure that if you continue to stay close to us we will not have any problems complying with the payments. The biggest thanks goes to anyone who contributed and, as always, to the people, men and women, for whom we do all this: the volunteer firefighters, and their passion. The least that the entire territory can do is to help them carry out the service as best as possible and safely.”
Davide Maniaci
