for homeland

security

By JULIE FINLEY

The Natchez Democrat

NATCHEZ &045; More than $30,000 in federal funds coming to local fire stations will be a major boost to each department’s equipment.

Federal Emergency Management dollars were awarded in the form of homeland security grants to the Kingston Volunteer Fire Department for $9,450 and to Natchez Fire for $25,200.

The grant money is something both departments have applied for and received before.

Each department must provide a 10 percent match to the funds.

County Emergency Management Director George Souderes said the grant money was especially important for a volunteer station because of the department’s small budget. The Kingston Fire Department’s budget is $12,210.

&uot;That’s almost as big as their yearly budget,&uot; Souderes said.

&uot;They couldn’t buy this particular stuff without doing it a little each year.&uot;

Kingston will spend their money to purchase firefighting equipment and safety equipment including eight new firefighter jumpsuits, one emergency vehicle light, a floating water pump, a portable water tank and two rapid intervention crew hoses.

Natchez Fire will spend the bulk of their money, about $10,000, on a machine used to check air packs and the computer system that operates it, Chief Paul Johnson said.

The remaining money will be spent on new hoses.

&uot;We are just moving into the 20th century,&uot; Johnson said. &uot;It’s a 10 percent match, you just can’t beat that.&uot;

Johnson said NFD has received the grant three out of the last four years.

Souderes said the three other volunteer fire departments in Adams County have applied for the grant but have not yet received word about receiving it.

&uot;Last year all four got it,&uot; he said. &uot;We are hoping, crossing our fingers, they will again.&uot;

Kingston has received the grant for three years in a row.