After Sandy Hook Fire & Rescue’s Engine 443 was damaged last year during October’s Superstorm Sandy, the truck was taken out of service. The cab had been destroyed when a tree fell on it, and other issues had been plaguing the aging vehicle, so the fire company permanently retired the vehicle.

Rhode Island resident Gordon Duke stepped in, and offered to get the truck to Guatemala, which he does for companies when they need to retire equipment that is no longer usable in the United States.

Last August, Botsford Fire Rescue made a large donation of retired firefighting gear, its second donation of materials through Mr Duke. Last month Sandy Hook Fire & Rescue donated its retired engine.

All of the donations have landed in Retalhuleu, a city in southwest Guatemala.