HURLOCK — Washing a car is not such a difficult or complicated task. But how about a tower truck? A couple of years ago the Hurlock Volunteer Fire Co. (HVFC) purchased a million dollar tower truck or aerial platform. The tower reaches about 100’ in the air, is a huge piece of equipment, and not so easy to keep sparkling clean.

According to HVFC Chief Jason Trego, “We were assisting East New Market fire company in a controlled burn and in the process the smoke turned and we ended up getting soot all over our tower. We tried washing it but it wouldn’t come off so we contacted Eric (Trice) of Absolute Power Washing and he came and took a look at it. For what we paid for that piece of equipment we want to keep it in as best shape as possible.”

The volunteers planned on paying the cost which was estimated at $500 to $1,000. In conversations with HFVC member Brian Tolley, Mr. Trice said he would not charge for the job. Chief Trice said, “We’ve had a good rapport with him. When we contacted him we were not looking for him to donate this. We were looking to pay for it in order to get our piece back to where it needs to be. Out of the goodness of his heart he offered to donate it.”

Mr. Trice told the chief that he would “take care of it for him but at the time I didn’t tell him I was going to do it for free. But I already knew I was going to. These guys are all volunteers who risk their lives running into burning buildings and houses to help us. The least I can do is offer my time and knowledge to help them clean a truck. I feel like my job is miniscule compared to what they do every day. I feel like the community should come together and support their local first responders because whether we support them or not, they’re still coming if we need help. The least I can do to give back and let them know I appreciate what they do for us.”

A Cambridge native, Mr. Trice moved to Hurlock about seven years ago. He started his business five years ago and found his niche in cleaning trucks – all sizes and shapes of trucks. “We’re really good at it,” he says. “We’re fast and efficient.” That is for sure.

On May 23 he and one of his three employees, Christopher James, estimated the job would take three, maybe four hours. That’s fast. That’s efficient. And a wonderful gift to his town.