Department to buy new command vehicle
The Tryon Fire Department has been awarded up to $168,000 in grant funding, which will help the department recruit and retain volunteers, purchase air packs and a new command vehicle.
Tryon Town Council met Tuesday, Sept. 27 and approved budget amendments accepting the grants. The fire department already has the required matches to the grants budgeted this fiscal year.
The department was awarded up to $60,000 to purchase a 2011 Chevrolet Tahoe to use as a command vehicle. The grant was awarded by the N.C. State Fire Marhal’s Volunteer Fire Department for departments with populations under 10,000. The state reimburses the vehicle purchase 50 percent, according to Tryon Fire Chief Joey Davis, with part of the reimbursement being paid through a transfer of the fire department’s Ford Escape. The town decided to transfer the Escape to its public works department.
The new Tahoe will be equipped to pull the department’s trailer, which formerly had to be pulled by volunteers’ personal vehicles.
The Tahoe has been purchased, and Davis said he expects it to be in service by the first of November.
“The fire department will have a minimal amount invested in this vehicle due to the transfer of the Escape,” Davis said.
The air packs will be purchased through the 2010 FEMA Assistance to Firefighters Grant program. The town will purchase 16 air packs and place a cascade system on the department’s service/rescue truck.
The cascade system will allow air packs to be filled in the field, according to Davis.  The department previously had to take the packs back to the department to refill or use resources from neighboring departments, such as Columbus.
The FEMA grant totals $92,000, with Tryon’s match being $5,000.
The fire department will also receive approximately $16,000 this fiscal year from the FEMA SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Emergency Response). The grant is used to fund the quarterly stipend Tryon volunteers are eligible for based on their participation in emergency calls and training activities. The grant also pays for “recruitment” materials, such as uniform parts, T-shirts, hats, etc.
This is Tryon’s third year in a five-year grant from the FEMA SAFER. No local match is required.