N.C. officials accept grant to pay for 6 firefighters

Courier-Tribune

RANDLEMAN, N.C. — Members of the Randleman Board of Aldermen voted Tuesday to accept a $565,782 FEMA grant to pay for six firefighters to staff Sophia Fire Department over the next two years, following a proposed merger with the Randleman Fire Department.

Discussions about the merger have been going on since February 2012 between the two fire departments, said Randleman Fire Chief Marty Leonard.

Randolph County commissioners were made aware of the request for the merger at the board’s January meeting. County commissioners will have to approve the merger and set a fire tax rate for the new fire service district. The merger is expected to be a line item on the commissioners’ February agenda. Leonard said the discussions were initiated because officials with the Sophia Fire Department said they have struggled in recent years to maintain enough volunteers to safely staff the department.

Full story: Randleman accepts grant to pay for six firefighters