Almaville Volunteer Fire Department Receives Federal Grant
November 21, 2007, SMYRNA – The Almaville Volunteer Fire Department will receive a $15,422 U.S. Department of Homeland Security operations and safety grant, U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon announced.
“Many communities struggle to maintain EMS and firefighting services,” said Gordon, a member of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus. “Even though demands on EMS providers and firefighters have increased tremendously over the years, the resources they depend on to provide their life-saving services have not.
“That’s why Congress initiated the Assistance to Firefighters Program, which is similar to the highly successful COPS program that put more than 100,000 new police officers on the nation’s streets.”
Assistant Chief Don Williams said the department will use the funds to pay for state-certified training for its 38 members who train twice a month at the Tennessee Fire Academy in Shelbyville.
“This will bring in an additional 350 hours in training for all our members, getting them up to Firefighter Level One, and the Rapid Intervention Team,” Williams said. The Rapid Intervention team is an emergency rescue for firefighters.
“If a firefighter gets in danger or is trapped, they go after them,” Williams said.
