Fire station gets grant worth $19K
A $19,491 federal grant recently awarded to Harrison Ferry Volunteer Fire Department comes as a godsend to the 1-year-old department, said fireman and board member Lynn Curtis.
“We sure need it,” he said. “We’re just getting started and we’re in debt up to our eyes. But with this money we’re headed in the right direction.”
The money will be used to purchase a number of items which will enhance the department’s fire-fighting capabilities. The items include “turn out” gear, or the special boots, hats, coats and pants firemen wear when fighting fires. Air packs, the breathing apparatus used by firemen in the line of action, will also be purchased, as will an exhaust fan, used to pull smoke out of a burning building. New pagers will also be purchased.
The federal grant money was made available to the department through the 2002 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program, which is administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Department chief Terry Worch was responsible for applying for the money.
Earlier this month, the Viola Volunteer Fire Department was awarded $13,968 through the program. Nationwide, 5,000 departments received a combined $360 million to support fire protection, EMS delivery, vehicle purchase and fire prevention. Over 19,000 fire departments applied for the grants this year.