Wish granted

By Staff
PC receives grants for new gear, truck
Melissa Cason
PHIL CAMPBELL – It's been over 30 years since the volunteer firefighters in Phil Campbell has had a new fire truck, and the department has never had a complete new set of turn out gear for every firefighter at once.
Now department can enjoy having both. Phil Campbell applied for a grant from the Department of Homeland Security in 2007, and received notification of the approval earlier this year.
"They grant was for $50,000 to purchase new turn out gear for all our firefighters," Fire Chief Mike Rice said. "We were able to purchase 23 complete sets of turn out gear thanks to this grant."
Rice said the gear was purchased from NAFCO, a known provider of firefighting equipment.
"Each complete set costs around $2,000," Rice said. "Our firefighters had been using older turn out gear,"
Rice said the department would replace worn out and unusable gear as needed but no complete sets have ever been purchased for the department.
"We want to especially thank the Russellville Fire Department, and Capt. Steve Thornton," Rice said.
Rice also thanked Mayor Jerry Mays, Councilman Jim Cartee, and the other council members for their continual support of the department.
In addition to the new turnout gear, Rep. Robert Aderholt's office announced yesterday that Phil Campbell's department was awarded a grant for $190,000, which will be used to purchase a new fire truck for the department.
"The last new fire truck for this department was purchased in 1976," Rice said.
Rice said a used 1978 model fire truck was purchased for the department in the '90s, so the department is excited about getting a new fire truck.
"They trucks we have now are good trucks, but they are old," Rice said. "We haven't really had any major problems with the trucks during a fire or rescue call because they have been well-maintained over the years."
Rice said the pump has been rebuilt in one of the trucks.
The new truck may lower homeowner's insurance cost because the ISO rating may be lowered as an affect of getting the new gear.
"We were told we needed three fire trucks during our last ISO inspection because of the number of buildings we have our coverage area," Rice said. "The new truck will make our third fire truck."
Rice said the new truck will hold 2,000 gallons of water, which is more than the other two trucks combined.
Phil Campbell will provide 5 percent funds on both of the grants.