According to  Chief Rich Lindsey the McCord’s Fire Department recently received notification that they have been awarded a $33,000.00 grant to purchase six new Self Contained Breathing Apparatuses (SCBAs). The grant was secured through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFG). AFG is a program of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which awards grants to fire departments to enhance their ability to protect the public and fire service personnel from fire and related hazards.

FEMA will cover 95% of the grant, and McCord’s Fire Department will be responsible for a 5% matching share. The matching funds will be generated through the department’s fund drives, which are supported by the communities it serves. The members of McCord’s Fire Department and I would like to thank Congressman Mike Rogers, Representative Richard Lindsey, and Dr. Lori Owens for their efforts in securing this grant.

The six SCBAs that will be purchased will replace six SCBAs that are over sixteen years old. These older units are sub-standard and have become unreliable. Because SCBAs are our only source of fresh air when in a fire, it is imperative that they are in good working order each time they are needed.

The SCBAs that will be purchased will meet all of the current guidelines set forth by the National Fire Protection Association. There have been many advancements in SCBA technology over the last several years. Today’s SCBAs have many features that improve firefighter safety, reduce firefighter fatigue, and allow firefighters to do their jobs more effectively and efficiently.

The units will be equipped with an integrated Personal Alert Safety System which alarms when a fireman becomes trapped in a fire, letting others know his/her whereabouts. The SCBAs will also be equipped with a Heads-up Display that allows the firefighter using the SCBA to constantly monitor his/her air pressure. This function better allows firefighters to safely exit a fire before running out of air. The units that are being replaced did not have either of these functions.

This grant will greatly increase firefighter safety and effectiveness at McCord’s Fire Department. However, this will also be an asset to many others due to the Automatic and Mutual Aid agreements in place with all thirteen of Cherokee County’s fire departments, as well as mutual aid agreements with surrounding departments in Georgia and Alabama. The department hopes to have the new SCBAs purchased and in service by the end of the year.

Chief Lindsey says that his department is blessed to serve an appreciative and supportive community. Projects such as this one are not possible without the support of the entire community. I would like to personally thank all who support McCord’s Fire Department.