Cranston firefighters heading to Texas to provide relief

September 1, 2017 4:18 pm

By: Chloe Leshner

cleshner@abc6.com

@cleshnerabc6

Firefighters in Houston are working round the clock for their flood-ravaged communities. Now a group from Cranston is heading down south to lend a hand.

"They’re doing house to house searches right now, they’re averaging 5000 calls a day, thousands of those guys have lost their houses or have their houses damaged and it’s nice to know that someone’s coming in that’s a firefighter that can help them get through it," says Scott Robinson, a Cranston firefighter going to Texas on Sunday.

Those traveling are trained members of the peer support group, going specifically to help firefighters and their families. Although they might not be going to do their typical job, it will help Texas firefighters do theirs.

"It allows that person to move forward and do what he has to do and achieve the goals and the tasks that he has to achieve," says Joe Casalino, a North Providence firefighter also making the trip.

They’re not sure what to expect or even where they’re going and for how long but didn’t think twice about heading there. The city in complete support.

"To provide that type of support, counseling, guidance to them and to be a resource to their families and whatever else they need is something we can never thank them enough for answering that call," says Mayor Allan Fung.

They’ve got some serious problems down there and need some serious people who know what they’re doing and that’s my guys," adds Paul Valletta the president of the Cranston Fire Union.

Two Cranston firefighters are leaving Sunday, followed by four more, including one from North Providence, on September 10.