Nashville FD receives almost $60,000 in grants

The Nashville Graphic

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Senator Kay Hagan announced last week that the Nashville Fire Department will receive a $59,850 grant through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) program, which aims to bolster operations and enhance safety at fire departments.

"I am so pleased that the Nashville Fire Department was selected to receive AFG funding to support our firefighters and the entire Nashville community," Hagan said. "Our first responders deserve the tools and resources they need to get the job done. This grant will help keep firefighters and, in turn, residents in Nashville safe."

"This grant is for an exhaust system for the apparatus," said Randy Goodbrod, Chief of Nashville Fire Department. "It will certainly improve the health and safety of the people that work in the building."

Goodbrod continued to explain that the exaust extraction system will remove fumes out of the fire station and living quarters from the trucks which offers a safer environment.

Nashville Town Manager Preston Mitchell said, "Our original application for this grant began approximately 3 to 4 years ago so we are glad to be selected in the most recent of the AFG (grant). We are always looking at other avenues, such as grants, to supplement our budget"

Mitchell continued to say the town is required to contribute a five percent match to the grant which is included in the 2012-2013 fiscal year budget.

According to a press release from Hagan's office, the primary goal of AFG is to meet the firefighting and emergency response needs of fire departments and nonaffiliated emergency medical service organizations. Since 2001, AFG has helped firefighters and other first responders to obtain critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training and other resources needed to protect the public and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards.