News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Fewer fundraisers. Fewer funds.
That’s the way it works for the men and women who protect homes across the Upper Cumberland as members of volunteer fire departments.
Right now, they are managing.
Clay County’s East 52 Chief James King said the station had to cancel their largest fundraising event this year.
“Our county government gives us $2,500 a year to run on, plus they pay for our insurance,” King said. “The $2,500 usually goes to paying for our light bills if I’m being honest. With everything else that we get as far as paying for our training, paying for our fuel, paying for our equipment and everything else is donation based and fundraising based. So yeah it looks like it’s going to impact us this year as far as financials go.”
At least half of the volunteers are staying home during the pandemic. King said other departments in the county have had to cancel their fundraising events as well. King said between the eight departments in the county, at least two or three calls are made per month.
Fairfield Glade PIO Dan Wind said the department has not faced any serious challenges so far.
“The fire department continues to be in operation, answering all emergency calls here as well as EMS,” Wind said. “We’re doing some protocols in the fire department where we have no outside visitors coming into our station, and we only have essential personal going into the station.”
Fairfield Glade postponed all fund raisers, and the next one is set for July 4. Wind said contributions from residents and the community club have kept the department in healthy financial standing.
