News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Van Buren County will use grant money to purchase new fire protection and rescue gear.
Commissioner William Maxwell said new breathing apparatuses, turnout gear and vehicle extraction equipment would bring its five departments up to standards.
“This gives us the ability to upgrade these things and get equipment that we would ordinarily not be able to purchase without a grant,” Maxwell said. “These are high dollars items that we wouldn’t be able to purchase with the current funds without the grant assistance.”
Maxwell said the items continue a county fire department improvement plan for better insurance ratings. Insurance Services Office rate departments on fire protection abilities. Maxwell said the organization has decreased two fire department levels meaning good progress.
“Bringing those from a nine to a six, so we have two fire departments in the county that are down to a six,” Maxwell said. “Some of that can be related to this equipment that we purchase. If we didn’t have some of this equipment, we wouldn’t be able to respond period or act as a fire department so it does make a difference.”
Van Buren County received a some $341,000 Community Development Block Grant funding the purchases. Maxwell said this marks the third time the county has used the money to upgrade fire and rescue services.
“Now that it’s awarded, we’ll have a contract we sign with the development district in a couple of weeks, and then start bidding equipment in probably three months,” Maxwell said. “Hopefully, it’ll be showing up in six to eight months.”
