The Florida Forest Service team has been busy in Jackson County recently. On Monday, crew members were creating a fire line for private property owners, and also took time to deliver a big piece of equipment to one of the local volunteer fire departments.
This one went to the Alford Volunteer Fire Department. The fire department contacted FFS some time back, saying they were looking for a brush truck. The FFS started checking the Federal Excess Equipment supply list it has access to as a partner with the U.S. Forest Service and found a 2.5-ton light utility truck that can be converted to serve. Sticker price on such a vehicle runs more than $100,000, but FFS received it at no charge and has loaned it to the VFD with no money exchanged. The department can keep the equipment as long as it wants and can carry out the modifications at will.
FFS has also helped the department in another way. In about a week, the Alford VFD will get a $500 check to pay for a radio repeater. Grand Ridge VFD will also benefit from FFS assistance. The department will get a check for about $300 to buy a chain saw. And the Marianna Fire Rescue team was been reimbursed for a $5,000 communication equipment purchase back in February.
New grants which have just been approved include: $10,141 for Alford VFD bunker gear; $10,573 for Cottondale VFD to purchase radios; $10,000 for Graceville VFD to buy radios; and $7,787 for Grand Ridge VFD to buy bunker gear.
In 2014, the FFS contributed $7,705 in partial reimbursements to seven Jackson County fire departments who had purchased bunker gear and pagers.
From the Jackson County Floridan: https://www.jcfloridan.com/news/local/article_ed8bc5e0-c68d-11e4-a30a-3b97d82c5cd1.html