By APRIL M. HAVENS
Three local fire departments have received more than $335,000 in Federal Emergency Management Agency Firefighter Assistant Grant funds for training and equipment.
The Moss Point Fire Department received $107,735, and the Benndale and Central volunteer fire departments, both in Lucedale, received $121,600 and $107,550, respectively.
The grants are part of a $1.66 million program to help 17 fire departments around the state buy new equipment and vehicles.
Loraine Howell, George County's fire coordinator, said the Benndale and Central stations will use their grants for turnout gear (jackets and other personal protection equipment) and training upgrade courses.
"It's a big asset to us because it's going to equip them to have better response and in general make things better for the volunteer firefighters," Howell said. "We're happy to get any amount we can, and we have greatly improved through the AFG grants."
Howell said the grants also help the departments recruit more firefighters.
"Better equipment means more people are willing to volunteer," she said.
Tommy Posey, shift captain and grant writer at the Moss Point Fire Department, said their grant will fund safety vests, 20 new air packs and send 35 firefighters to driver training.
"In the last two years, I've gotten close to $486,000 in grants for the fire department," Posey said. "These grants are amazing, and they really help us out, especially since all the cities are in a bind financially."
Those grants have bought new radios, turnout gear and training, he said.
"We don't just sit here and depend on tax dollars," Posey said. "We go out looking for grants."
Posey still awaits word on two other 2009 grants that would help the department buy a new truck and remodel two of its older fire stations, he said.
Larger vehicle acquisition grants were awarded to East Covington Volunteer Fire Department in Collins, the Farmington Volunteer Fire Department in Corinth, and Silver Run Volunteer Fire Department in Perkinston, while 11 smaller grants went to departments for operations and safety.
The funds are in addition to 20 similar grants awarded in January and are awarded on a competitive basis by FEMA and the U.S. Fire Administration.
"The Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program is useful to many rural and volunteer forces that might not otherwise have the resources to obtain the equipment they need to serve the public," Sen. Thad Cochran said in a news release. "I am pleased that FEMA has accepted grant applications from more fire departments in Mississippi."
In January, FEMA awarded $1.47 million in AFG grants to 20 local fire departments in Mississippi. Congress funded the program through the 2009 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill.
