The Elk River Volunteer Fire Department in north-central Idaho is the recent recipient of a brush truck, courtesy the Coeur d’Alene Fire Department.

The vehicle, which was slated to be declared as surplus, was instead donated to the Elk River department when the need was identified, said Jim Washko, deputy chief with the Coeur d’Alene Fire Department.

In a typical year, the small Elk River Fire Department operates on a $5,000 budget—all from community donations. “With a small budget like that, the donation of a brush truck saved them a ton of money,” Washko said. Troy Inman, chief of the Elk River Fire Department was “ecstatic” over the donation, Washko added.

Rather than surplus the brush truck, valued at about $1,500, Washko approached the Coeur d’Alene City Council late last year requesting that it be donated. His request was approved. “This amounts to doing the greater good for the greater amount of people,” Washko said.

Photo: Elk River Volunteer Fire Department Chief Troy Inman, left, and Coeur d’Alene Fires Department Deputy Chief Jim Washko, stand in front of the donated brush truck.