Northwest suburban Chicago auto repair students step up to fix fire department car
CARY, Ill. (CBS) -- A fire department in northwest suburban Cary has students to thank for saving one of its vehicles.
A support vehicle broke down, and it would have been a costly repair for the Cary Fire Protection District. But some young people put their skills to the test — and rose to the challenge.
At Cary-Grove High School, seniors in the auto seminars class work on cars for students and staff.
"Make those repairs so they can get to school and get to work and get around the community," said automotive instructor Dan Jergerksi.
But this past semester, a new challenge rolled around. A 2014 Buick from the Cary Fire Protection District had broken down.
"We had an issue with our fire prevention bureau car," said Cary Fire Protection District Chief Brad Delatorre. "We had an engine failure."
The fix easily could have cost $10,000, but Delatorre saw an opportunity to save taxpayers and teach students — like his own son, Kasey, who is in the auto seminars class.
"They bought a new engine, and offered us to see if we can put a new one in and get it running again," said Kasey Delatorre.
Seniors worked in the garage all semester long.
""You feel like you have to really work together more, because it's a bigger job — and you've got a lot of pressure on you," said Cary-Grove High School senior Cooper Leisten.
Kasey Delatorre said the repairs to the fire protection district car went beyond what the class usually does.
"We don't really usually take out engines and put new ones back in," he said. "I think this was the first one in a while that we've done."
After some A-plus service, the fire protection district car can now go back to serving the community.
"It's running," said Chief Delatorre. "Yeah, we can put it back to service, and they can start doing more inspections."
The chief's son said he thought the car looked and ran great. And Kasey Delatorre is considering a career fixing cars — or maybe fighting fires.
"It runs in the family," he said.
Leisten also envisions a future in a fire department.
"I'm going to go to MCC for fire science," he said. "I'm going to be a firefighter."
Kasey Delatorre's father is already a firefighter, but engine repairs are not in his wheelhouse. But now, he has a class of mechanics he can trust.