Marengo County VFDs hold chiefs meeting, receive funds
Published 8:15 am Wednesday, September 6, 2017
- Pictured are volunteer firefighters from Marengo County, from left, (seated) George Norris, Jefferson VFD; Louis White, Dixons Mills VFD and Marengo County Association of Volunteer Fire Departments President; Justin King, Old Springhill VFD; Todd Foster, Old Springhill VFD; Bayne Moore, Alabama Forestry Commission – Work Unit 51 Manager; Danny Flowers, Sweetwater VFD; Wilske Gamble, Putnam VFD; Avery Williams, Putnam VFD; Norman Hill, Dixons Mills VFD; (standing) Denny Baynham, Linden VFD; Allen Ballard, Faunsdale VFD; Daryl Green, Surginer VFD; Doug Shearer, Myrtlewood VFD; Samuel Alt, Marengo County Fire & Rescue; Jamie Walters, Marengo County Fire & Rescue; Elaine Beech, Alabama House District 65 Representative; Jeff Laduron, Thomaston VFD; James Creel, Linden VFD; Michael Harrington, South Marengo County Fire & Rescue; Joseph Stephens, Dixons Mills VFD – Marengo County Association of Volunteer Fire Departments Vice President; Bill Carlisle, Alabama Forestry Commission-Southwest Region Vol. Fire Assistance Coordinator; and Benjamin Elmore, Alabama Forestry Commission-Southwest Regional Forester.
The Marengo County Association of Volunteer Fire Departments held a Chiefs Meeting Tuesday, August 29, and were presented the 2017 Rural Community Fire Protection Grant that is awarded to each qualified Volunteer Fire Department in the amount of $1,057.
In attendance to present the checks and to show appreciation to the hard-working volunteers was Alabama House District 65 Representative Mrs. Elaine Beech.
The Alabama Legislature appropriates funds and directs the Alabama Forestry Commission to administer the program and distribute funds to every active volunteer fire department in Alabama. Fire departments must use these funds in accordance with the Alabama Department of Examiners of Public Accounts’ Financial and Compliance Guidelines for Volunteer Fire Departments. Approximately $1 million is distributed to approximately 1,000 fire departments each year.
Marengo County VFD’s presented activity reports for Oct. 1, 2016 through July 31, 2017, from information provided by Marengo County E911 Center. According to those reports, volunteer firefighters responded to 113 forest fires covering a total area of about 490 acres, responded to 116 structure fires, 45 vehicle fires, 612 medical calls that includes vehicle wreck calls, and 136 miscellaneous calls that includes items such as downed trees and gas leaks.
There are 12 qualified VFDs in Marengo County with approximately 312 members county wide. These VFDs train year-round to provide a valuable service to their communities by responding to those in need. Officials representing these departments said they are always looking for new members to train and serve their communities. For more information, contact a local Volunteer Fire Department.
(This article originally appeared in the Saturday, Sept. 2, print edition of the Demopolis Times.)