McCord’s Crossroads Volunteer Fire Department recently received notification from Congressman Mike Rogers that the department has been awarded a $52,440.00 grant to purchase nineteen new sets of Structural Fire Suppression Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). 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.

Chief Rich Lindsey along with all the members of McCord’s Fire Department would like to thank Congressman Mike Rogers, Senator Doug Jones, Representative Ginny Shaver, Senator Andrew Jones, and Dr. Lori Owens for their efforts in securing this grant. Chief Lindsey stated that grants like these are imperative to keeping our rural volunteer fire departments operational. This grant will allow the department to replace nineteen sets of PPE that ranges in age from thirteen to fourteen years old.

The life expectancy of such gear is ten years or less depending on actual use. The department relies on this equipment to extinguish structural and vehicle fires, protecting its firefighters from heat and flames at sustained temperatures up to 500° Fahrenheit. Therefore, having PPE that is in good condition is crucial to firefighter safety, public safety, and the overall effectiveness of the fire department.

The equipment purchased will bring the department into compliance with the National Fire Protection Association’s guidelines for Structural Fire Suppression PPE.

Not only will this grant benefit the citizens served by McCord’s Fire Department, it 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 equipment purchased and in service by the Spring of 2020.

Chief Lindsey said, “We are 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.