Third District Fire Departments to Receive New Equipment
July 29, 2008

Congressman Zach Wamp announced that four fire departments in the Third Congressional District will soon receive much needed equipment to protect fire fighters serving local communities. The Harrogate Volunteer Fire Department in Claiborne County, Jefferson City Fire Department in Jefferson County, city of Norris Fire Department in Anderson County and the Paulette Volunteer Fire Department in Union County were recently awarded federal grants to purchase new equipment from the Assistance to Fire Fighters grant program from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. 

“The Third District is fortunate to have such dedicated fire fighters serving our local communities,” said Congressman Wamp. “This federal funding will help these fire departments get needed equipment to allow fire fighters to respond to emergencies in Harrogate, Jefferson City, Norris, Maynardville and the surrounding areas more safely and effectively.” 

The Harrogate Volunteer Fire Department has 12 active fire fighters at the newly formed fire department serving more than 4,000 residents in a 7-square-mile area. The department plans to use the operations and safety grant for new training materials to prepare volunteers for the fire fighters academy, and to purchase six new pagers for volunteers, a two-way radio for the rescue truck and an air purification system for Station #2. 

The Jefferson City Fire Department has 13 career fire fighters and 25 reserve fire fighters serving 8,500 residents – the largest concentrated population in Jefferson County – in a 2.2-square-mile area. The department plans to use the operations and safety grant to purchase 29 self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) units to help fire fighters breathe in a hazardous environment. The funds will also allow the department to acquire one spare cylinder for each unit and a breathing air compressor unit to refill empty cylinders after each use. These new SCBAs will meet the latest National Fire Protection Association issued standards. 

The Norris Fire Department has seven public safety officers and 15 volunteer fire fighters who cover a 7.69-square-mile service area with approximately 1,500 residents. The department plans to use the operations and safety grant to purchase eight portable and four mobile radio tone pagers to replace its old alpha pagers. 

The Paulette Volunteer Fire Department has 16 active fire fighters and 25 reserve fire fighters serving 6,000 residents in a 125-square-mile area. The department plans to use the vehicle acquisition grant to replace its 40-year-old engine with a newer Class A engine with 1,250-gallon-per-minute pump and a 1,000 gallon tank. The new truck will help the department better respond to emergencies in Union County.