Markham donates fire truck in response to Liberia's 'cry for help'

It was like a grown-up version of a Touch-a-Truck event.

Erasmus T. Williams, a senior official of the Republic of Liberia, climbed into the driver's seat of Markham Fire Truck No. 1533 Wednesday evening with a big smile on his face.

He also looked like a kid in a candy store, dressed in a fireman's outfit, which he wore over his dark blue suit.

Williams, who holds the long title of Coordinator/Deputy Minister of Diaspora Affairs and Ministry of State for Presidential Affairs of Liberia, was having fun with the truck but can't wait for it to arrive in his African country of the West for serious business.

Markham Mayor Roger Agpawa presented Williams and other Liberian officials with ceremonial keys to the 2001 fire truck, which the city donated to the country. Liberian officials have said there are only 10 fire trucks to serve a country of 6 million people, something that has caused conflict for years, but more recently.

“We came here to let you know how important this donation is,” Williams told the city council. “It doesn't have to do with the amount, but rather with the time. It was time for the City of Markham to respond and it will go down in the history of our country and the people of Liberia will be forever grateful.

Moriel McClerklin, a Markham native and African Diaspora Union Ambassador to the United States and Canada, helped spread awareness of the need for fire equipment in Liberia to various communities.

“The country is in a crisis,” McClerklin said. “There have been a number of fires in the country and firefighting equipment is limited. They just watch the buildings burn.

According to him, the last major disaster occurred in April, when the house of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, J. Fonati Koffa, was destroyed in the capital Monrovia.

“People were crying in the street. » said McClerklin.

McClerklin said he contacted several communities.

It turns out that in the last few weeks Markham purchased a new fire truck and town officials were trying to figure out what to do with the 2001 truck. The old truck got a new engine and looked so clean, parked in front of City Hall, that a firefighter joked, “Maybe we should keep it.” »

Logistics are still underway to get the truck to West Africa, but once it arrives, it will be welcomed with open arms.

“You simply cannot imagine how important this act is to the Republic of Liberia,” McClerklin said. “You are the first city to respond to this urgent call for help. »

Agpawa, who received a robe and hat from Liberian authorities, was invited to Liberia for a visit.

“We want to continue to be a blessing,” Agpawa said. “We have been blessed. We have done it regionally and now across the world. We are doing what this government is called to do.

“We’re just grateful to be able to do this and I look forward to collaborating with us.”

The mayor, a former Country Club Hills fire chief, said if he went to Liberia, he could use his firefighting knowledge to pass it on to firefighters there.

Fire Chief Chris Nearing, who said a new fire truck would cost the neighborhood about $1 million, said that despite the truck's age, it was in good condition.

“We actually just bought a new engine and then this (donation) came in and it’s a great place to donate it,” he said.

“There has been a lot of action over the last 24 years. There it could last another 20 years,” Nearing said. “Their environment is a little different from ours. They cannot tolerate salt and cold.

The city also honored retired Deputy Chief Samuel C. Harris, who spent 33 years on the force and earned the nickname “Robocop.”

“No one compares to him,” Agpawa said. “He will always be my friend and he will always have friends in the police force.”

Jeff Vorva is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.