Over 10 Sampson County fire departments recently received matching grants from the North Carolina Office of State Fire Marshal (OSFM), allowing departments to purchase needed equipment while receiving reimbursement assistance from the state.
The grants help departments across the county offset the rising costs of equipment, protective gear and communication tools necessary to keep firefighters safe and departments operational.
Halls Fire
Halls Fire Chief Brian Royal said his department’s total equipment purchases will amount to $61,300. The state awarded Halls a matching grant of $30,650, covering approximately half of the projected costs.
“We’re very appreciative to get the funding because we try not to put the burden on our taxpayers,” Royal said. “So any kind of grant opportunities that come up, we try to pursue.”
Royal explained the funding will help the department purchase equipment such as turnout gear, which must be regularly updated to meet state requirements, along with other daily-use items firefighters rely on.
“Our turnout gear has to stay up-to-date every 10 years,” he pointed out. “We can’t just go out and buy turnout gear for 30 people all at one time because that would create a huge burden. We try to purchase four or five sets each year.
“Just to outfit one firefighter with a helmet, coat and pants costs around $5,500,” Royal continued. “When you multiply that by 30 firefighters, it gets expensive quickly. The 800-frequency radios we use to communicate are another major expense. Every member is also required by the Department of Insurance to carry a fire pager, and those are roughly $600 apiece. You can see how the costs add up for every member of a fire department.”
Royal also explained how the reimbursement process works once departments receive approval for the grant.
“The equipment has to be approved before the grant is funded,” Royal explained. “Once the grant is awarded, I have to purchase everything up front. After that, I send the receipts to the state, and they review them to make sure everything matches what I applied for.
“Then they reimburse us for 50 percent of what we spent,” he added. “For example, if I applied for $60,000 worth of equipment but only spent $50,000, they would reimburse us $25,000. They make sure everything lines up exactly with the application.”
Vann Crossroads
Vann Crossroads Fire Chief Anthony Thornton emphasized the importance of the matching grant program for smaller departments. Vann Crossroads received a $5,232.42 matching grant from the Office of State Fire Marshal. The total equipment costs for its fire department was $10,464.84
“This particular grant basically enables us to double the funds we have available,” Thornton said. “The state matches any money that we put toward equipment, which is huge for us because it allows us to purchase equipment we normally wouldn’t be able to afford.
“Almost all of the funding will be used for equipment that allows our firefighters to operate more safely,” he added.
Thornton said part of the funding will help replace personal protective equipment, or PPE, that must meet updated safety regulations and replacement schedules.
“Most of our PPE is regulated to be replaced every 10 years, so we’ll be purchasing several pairs of firefighting boots,” he said. “We’ll also be purchasing new radio station equipment that we use to alert our firefighters to emergency calls.”
Thornton also discussed how impactful grants like these are for rural fire departments throughout Sampson County.
“They look at your department’s needs and financial situation when determining the grants,” Thornton explained. “Departments considered to be the most in need generally receive the largest portions of funding.
“It’s extremely important for small departments like the ones we have in Sampson County because it helps us maximize the taxpayer dollars we receive while continuing to provide the services our communities expect,” he continued. “Whether a department is career or volunteer, we’re all expected to follow the same standards and regulations. We have to make sure our members stay compliant, our gear remains within date and we meet all required standards.
“Our citizens expect us to respond to emergencies just like larger paid departments,” Thornton added. “Grants like this help us replace necessary equipment and make sure we’re prepared to answer the call.”
Clement Fire
Clement Fire Department received a $20,430 matching grant from the North Carolina Office of State Fire Marshal, with their total equipment costs reaching $40,860
Garland Fire
The town of Garland’s fire department was awarded a matching grant for a total of $15,571.70, its total amount in equipment costs $31,143.40
Herring Fire
Herring’s Fire Department was awarded a matching grant for $9,895 with $19,790 expected to be its total cost in equipment.
Newton Grove Fire
Newton Grove Fire Department was awarded a matching grant for $13,079, with $26,158 expected in total cost for equipment.
Salemburg Fire
The town of Salemburg’s Fire DepartmentDepartment
Spivey’s Corner Volunteer Fire Department was awarded a matching grant for $12,953, with $25,906 expected to be its total costs for equipment.
Turkey Fire
Turkey’s Fire Department received a matching grant for $36,436.17, helping cover 50 percent of the total equipment costs of $72,872.34.