Department needs votes from locals to take lead in contest

With just over two weeks left, the Hines Volunteer Fire Department (VFD) is stepping up its campaign to win a new $250,000 fire engine. Hines VFD is one of seven department finalists in the U.S. competing for the fire truck.

Sponsored by E-One, an Ocala, Florida emergency vehicle manufacturer, the contest is designed to find the most deserving volunteer fire department in the country. E-One has narrowed down the field of original submissions down to the final seven.

Now it is simply a popularity contest where the public will decide the most deserving fire department in the country based on an internet vote, which started in April and will end in late August. The winners name will be announced at a fire department exposition and trade show held in Chicago on Aug. 27.

Hines firefighters have been hard at work soliciting support for the community and the story that placed them in the contest, but finds themselves behind the leader who has a much larger population base to draw from. In fact, the leader has received media coverage from five or six TV stations and press from a city with a metro population of 1.3 million.

So far Hines has received some national attention and support but needs to be sure all local citizens have cast their votes in the effort to help ourselves.

The website to read and vote for the Hines VFD story is www.WinAFireTruck.com.

“We need people to share the story with all their family and friends, we need votes from more than the Burns and Hines communities,” said Jonathan Manski, a Lieutenant with Hines VFD.

Everyone with an e-mail address can vote and each e-mail can  cast one vote , however you can use multiple e-mail addresses. The process is simple. At the bottom of the story page is a vote button. Enter your name, e-mail, Hines VFD, and answer two marketing questions with any of the drop down menu choices, the answers don’t matter but must be filled in to have your vote count. “It only takes 30 seconds to vote,”,  Chief Bob Spence said. “It doesn’t cost you anything.”

If you have any questions or need help contact any Hines firefighter for assistance.