Masontown VFD wins utility vehicle in nationwide contest

MASONTOWN — Masontown Volunteer Fire Department has a new utility vehicle — at no cost to the department — and it was all due to an essay written by Masontown Fire Chief Matt Montgomery’s mother, Donna.

“She told me she was going to nominate the department for this nationwide contest through RFD-TV for a new UTV, but what are the chances of winning a national contest?” Montgomery asked. “We were very excited when we heard we won, because ours is around 16 years old.”

The department was chosen from 500 national entries to receive a Mahindra mPact XTV 750 S with Flexhauler Cargo Box, a gas side-by-side with a fold-down cargo box and standard electric cargo box lift.

“This contest was open to any group of first responders in the United States,” Mahindra USA representative Travis Morin said. “We were impressed when we read the essay written by Matt’s mother about the flooding rescue this department did in July.”

The incident Morin was referring was the July 23 rescue of more than a dozen people at the Bull Run bridge when quickly rising water surrounded their campsite.

Approximately 19 people from Maryland and Pennsylvania had set up camp in the area where Big Sandy Creek meets the Cheat River. While the site normally could be reached with minimal wading, that weekend’s heavy rainfall caused the water to rise 3 feet and the current to become dangerously swift.

Shortly before 10 a.m. July 23, volunteer fire departments from Masontown, Reedsville, Bruceton-Brandonville and a KAMP ambulance from Kingwood were dispatched to handle the swift-water rescue.

“Mahindra North America is passionate about giving back to those that serve our communities. We are pleased to partner with RFD-TV to donate a Mahindra utility vehicle to the Masontown Volunteer Fire Department,” Morin said during the presentation. “First responders make a difference in their communities every day and deserve our support.”

Montgomery thanked Morin and Mahindra USA, as well as Bob Meredith, owner of Mahindra of Clarksburg, who delivered the vehicle to the department on Tuesday.

“This is a real honor to be chosen to receive this UTV out of the 500 entries in the contest,” Montgomery said. “There has been a lot of excitement here at the department since we found out we were chosen to receive this.”

Montgomery said the department would still use its current UTV, since it has the medical bed.

“We still need to get used to this new UTV and the operation,” Montgomery said. “But it will be put to good use. It will be nice to have two we can use.”