By By MaryClaire Foster
Instead of having to rely on Atmore, Poarch or Bay Minette fire departments, the Perdido Volunteer Fire Department can now fill its own air packs after receiving a $38,000 grant from FEMA for new equipment.
The grant, which is just a portion of the $424,546 awarded to local fire departments and emergency medical organizations in the state, allots for the purchase of an air compressor to fill the packs as well as installation costs.
Perdido Fire Chief Web Bush explained how the grant will serve the department.
Bush said the department applied for the grant about 11 months ago and found out two weeks ago they had been awarded it.
Bush said he is just as excited for how this will benefit his own fire department as well as departments nearby that are in the same situation they were prior to receiving the grant.
Nationally, the amount of grant’s from the same fund where this one came totalled $19 million for the week.
The AFG program includes three kinds of awards: Fire grants, Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grants and Fire Prevention and Safety grants (FP&S).
The fiscal year 2008 AFG awards, which are being distributed in phases, will ultimately provide about $500 million to fire departments and nonaffiliated emergency medical service organizations throughout the country.
The full list of recipients and other information, including program Fact Sheets, can be found on the AFG Web site www.firegrantsupport.com