Oakland Township-Oneida Valley volunteer firefighters show off their recently acquired Freightliner rescue truck. From left are Dan Lewis, Ken Blatt, Travis Reismeyer, Ed Edgington, Dennis Hassler, Ashley Hassler, Derek Thompson, Lori Daugherty and Crystal Thompson.

OAKLAND TWP — The Oakland Township-Oneida Valley Volunteer Fire Department hopes to recover part of the cost of its new rescue truck with proceeds from its annual fundraising drive.

"This is a first for our fire department to have such a vehicle," said Dan Lewis, department president.

The department in April bought the 2003 Freightliner for $46,000.

The truck carries up to seven firefighters and equipment, Lewis said. It will have self-contained breathing apparatus for four of them.

"We're going to have it set up for four people to be suited up in case they have to go in a structure to rescue people," he said.

Lewis said the department responded to 102 fire calls in 2006.

Requests for donations were sent to about 1,300 residents and businesses on May 11, he said.

"Our fundraiser was earmarked to recover as much money spent on the rescue truck as possible," he said.

Department officials also plan to equip the new truck with extrication tools to rescue accident victims.

"We are trying to improve the equipment we have and send volunteers for training," Lewis said. "It's always expensive to add equipment."

Although there is no official goal, Lewis said the annual fund drive typically has generated about $10,000 in recent years.

The department also is holding its quarterly gasoline raffle. Prizes are one $500 gift card, plus two $200 cards good for buying gasoline.

Tickets are $2 each, and available from members of the department, at businesses, and at the fire station at 301 Oneida Valley Road, which is Route 38.

The drawing is July 18 at the fire station.

Anyone who wants to mail a donation can send it to the Oakland Twp-Oneida Valley VFD at P.O. Box 1085, Butler, PA 16003.

For information, call the fire hall at 724-284-1495.