Berkman to donate fire truck to city of West
ARLINGTON -- Lance Berkman, with the help of the of the City of Arlington Fire Department, will donate a fire truck to the West Volunteer Fire Department Saturday during the City of West Night at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.
The fire truck was on display Wednesday before the game, sporting the Texas Rangers Foundation logo, Berkman's name and his No. 27 jersey number.
"It's unbelievable; you just can't imagine a destruction on that level," Berkman said of the fertilizer explosion on April 17. "I haven't been there personally and seen the devastation first hand, but from all accounts it's an unimaginable type of explosion that leveled several city blocks. I don't think I can tell you I've experienced anything like that to even know what it would be like."
Berkman received a tour of the fire truck by Arlington Fire Rescue Battalion Chief Bill McQuatters, who also helped Nelson Cruz find a fire truck to donate to his home village in the Dominican Republic last year.
"We shipped it here and stored it in one of our stations," McQuatters said. "The guys at the station started waxing it, cleaning it up to make it look good."
McQuatters said he has gathered some equipment to donate for the fire truck, but Berkman plans to supply the funds for the rest of the equipment.
The donation will be part of the pregame presentation Saturday. The Rangers expect over 5,000 residents and first responders from West in attendance. All donations collected during Saturday's Rangers Baseball Tomorrow Equipment Drive will benefit the Legacy West Education Foundation to help youth programs in West. Fans can drop off new and gently used baseball and softball equipment to any entrance from 4:00-6:45 p.m. CT.
Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association will make a $100,000 donation toward the relief efforts and the Texas Rangers Baseball Foundation will donate $40,000 to the West City Council. The Rangers will wear a "Support West" patch for the game, and the jerseys will be raffled off to raise funds for the relief efforts.