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Fire Response Campaign for Gush Etzion

Fred Toczek

Fred Toczek

GOAL
The Pico-Robertson community and friends are raising $300,000 for fire fighting vehicles and equipment for the residents of Gush Etzion.

The specific needs are for two Polaris Ranger Rapid Action Vehicles ($75,000 each) and three fire wagons ($50,000 each) for a total of $300,000. All donation levels are welcome. Contact Neuriel Shore to donate anonymously at NShore@jnf.org. All individual gifts of $10,000 or more will be eligible for plaque recognition in Israel and recognized as a JNF-USA Major Donor. Learn more at jnf.org/majordonor.


BACKGROUND
The courageous men and women who fight fires in Gush Etzion are unsung heroes. They are the first responders to many emergencies, including bombings, car accidents, forest fires, natural disasters, and hazardous materials fires. Over the years, Jewish National Fund-USA has been a primary partner to the Israel Fire and Rescue Authority, outfitting the fire fighters with state-of-the-art equipment, vehicles, and facilities. THERE IS CURRENTLY NO RAPID ACTION VEHICLE IN GUSH ETZION AND WOULD BE A HUGE ASSET FOR LOCAL VOLUNTEER AND PROFESSIONAL FIREFIGHTERS. Since Jan 2019, there have been over 1,800 fires in Gush Etzion, 70 which were ruled as arson.


RAPID ACTION VEHICLE
The modified Polaris Ranger vehicle allows two volunteers to drive into valleys and hard-to-reach areas that full fire trucks are unable to enter. This mini-truck with embedded extinguishing unit can get closer to the source of fire quicker than any other. The extinguishing unit includes a stainless steel tank with a volume of 300 liters with a partition to prevent water fluctuations, hydraulic stirring by injector, height gauge to calibrate the tank, and two lashing straps to anchor the unit. Two fire extinguishers are mounted on the sides of the tank as well.


FIRE WAGON
Fire wagons have become a critical asset to those on the front lines, as wagons can reach deeper into fields that trucks cannot access, while simultaneously harnessing a greater extinguishing power. The wagons are able to move extremely quickly, a vital component to stopping the fires. The sooner firefighters are able to get to the spot where an incendiary device hits the ground, of course, the less damage is caused. Fire Wagons are stand-alone extinguishers that connect to a volunteer’s own car, allowing up to five volunteers to drive in the car to the site of the fire. The fire wagon has a main 75-foot hose and an extension hose. It also has a secondary hose that can be operated in conjunction with the primary hose, so two firefighters can operate at the same time. The tank holds 75 gallons of water. It’s powered by a diesel engine, which generates a lot of pressure. The nozzle can spray through different apertures, creating very broad to very narrow flows. It can operate on one tank for 20 to 30 minutes of use, depending on the flow selected.


ABOUT JNF-USA & GUSH ETZION
As part of its One Billion Dollar Roadmap, JNF-USA is committed to preserving and caring for Israel’s historical sites and to remembering the past as a way to link to the future. This includes the Gush Etzion Heritage Center, which details the heroic battle residents fought during the War of Independence. A promenade has also been created to remember Gil-Ad Shaer (z”l), Naftali Frenkel (z”l), and Eyal Yifrah (z”l), the three boys abducted and killed prior to 2014’s Operation Protective Edge, and a lookout point in memory of 18-yearold terror victim Ezra Schwartz (z”l). Of particular importance in this region is fire and rescue equipment to protect the land and people from natural and man-made fires and other emergencies. JNF-USA continues to provide invaluable resources to the local community, including Rapid Action Vehicles, fire trucks and fire wagons.


THE JNF-USA VISION
Everything we do -- every project, initiative, and campaign we take on – is integral to our vision of building and connecting to our land. Israel and the American Jewish community face both unprecedented opportunities and serious challenges in the decade ahead. To meet those challenges head-on, our strategic roadmap channels JNF-USA's core values into groundbreaking new ventures. While the One Billion Dollar Roadmap for the Next Decade fund is invested in a range of initiatives, our key investments focus on three core areas of expertise: (1) Community building in Israel’s north and south (2) Connecting the next generation to Israel (3) Developing infrastructure for ecology, special needs, and heritage preservation. The social impact of these accomplishments will not only lead to a stronger Israeli society but also an American Jewish community that will be more united and vibrant than ever. This is the most ambitious campaign in JNF-USA's history and we invite you to be an investor, to join us as a partner, and to help make the land and people of Israel the best it can be.
JUL
17

Gush Etzion Fire Prevention

JUN
20

Gush Etzion countryside

Gush Etzion vinyards

Rapid Action Vehicle #2

JUN
13

Rapid Action Vehicle

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$158,662
raised of $300,000 goal
 

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