When a Lathrop High School student on a bicycle was struck by a vehicle earlier this month – destroying the bike and injuring the student – it would have been easy for Lathrop Manteca firefighters responding to the call to just focus on the student’s injuries and then go on about their day.

But they did a lot more than just that.

After performing emergency medical services, the firefighters agreed to look after the bike for the student until a family member could come down to the station and pick it up.

“The patient was very concerned about his bike and shared that he had a loss in the family recently,” Acting Lathrop Manteca Captain Andre Guzman said. “We promised that we would take it back to the station with us so that it was safe, and he could have somebody come get it for him.

“As we loaded up his bike, we noticed that the front wheel is bent, the handlebars had no grips, the brakes were in bad shape, and the list went on.”

So, the firefighters put their heads together and did what they thought was the only thing that they could do – they bought the young man a new bicycle.

The three firefighters – Guzman, Erik Forberg, and Kyle Cole – opened up their wallets and pitched in to cover the cost of a new bicycle which was delivered to the young man so that he had a safe and reliable way to get back and forth to school.

According to Division Chief Larry Madoski, the act was just another in a long line that show the level of professionalism and dedication that firefighters for the district bring to their job.

“This is the caliber of firefighter that we have here at LMFD – it’s not the first bike that’s been bought and it won’t be the last,” Madoski said. “We’ve been fortunate to see that the LMFD isn’t just a place to work – it’s a place where people care.

“They care deeply about the people they serve, about each other, and about the job they do.”

And it’s not the first time this school year that the agency’s firefighters have responded to students that are in need.

After a fire burned up most of the brand new playground equipment at the River Islands Technology Academy just days before school started back in the fall, firefighters showed up to deliver interim equipment that they had purchased so that kids didn’t have go without while they were at school.

To contact reporter Jason Campbell email jcampbell@mantecabulletin.com or call 209.249.3544.