Roanoke Rapids businessman Chuck Overton and his employees stopped by the fire department Thursday to look at the equipment a recent donation of his helped to purchase.

“It was just to help the fire department and to thank them for what they do,” said Overton, who owns Roanoke Valley Ice Company and Crystal Rapids Car Wash.

(The accompanying photo gallery shows employees gathered around the equipment as well as a demonstration of the thermal imaging camera)

His donation provided the fire department a new thermal imaging camera as well as two rapid intervention packs.

Roanoke Rapids Fire Chief Stacy Coggins said the donation gives the fire department a second camera and enables it to have two rapid intervention packs on each engine.

The camera enables firefighters to find trapped occupants in smoke-filled structures and locate fires and hotspots, Coggins said.

The rapid intervention packs contain spare cylinders, said Jason Patrick, assistant chief of logistics, as well as a spare mask. “They are specifically designed to help trapped firefighters,” he said.

Coggins said he was appreciative of the donation. “We are truly thankful and grateful for the Overton family and businesses for their generous donation. It will go a long way in keeping our citizens and firefighters safe.”