Valero Donates to 10 Fire Departments

SAN ANTONIO -- Valero Renewable Fuels will donate more than $40,000 in money and equipment to 10 local fire departments in Midwestern communities where the company owns ethanol plants, The Associated Press reported.

"At the ethanol plants, the staff isn't big enough to have on-site firefighting operations," Bill Day, director of media relations at Valero, told Ethanol Producer. Beyond the donations, Valero will work with the local fire departments to ensure they are equipped and trained to respond to emergencies at the plants.

Donations include firefighting equipment such as portable fire monitors and foam nozzles, funds to purchase equipment, or a combination of the two.

In addition, Valero will pay tuition and travel costs for two firefighters from each of the 10 locations to attend a fire training academy at Texas A&M University next month, according to the magazine report.

"They'll receive general firefighting instructions as well as specialized training in fighting ethanol- and alcohol-fueled fires," Day said in the report.

He added: "This has been part of Valero's culture from the company's beginnings, and we're bringing that culture to the 10 communities where we bought ethanol plants over the past year."

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