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From left are state Rep. Kevin Corbin, Alan Andrews, Grape Creek Fire Chief Joe Lanphere, Rachel Lay, Commissioner Mike Causey and N.C. Firefighter Association financial director Dean Coward. Photo by Samantha Sinclair -
From left are state Rep. Kevin Corbin, Unaka Fire Chief Tylor Dockery, Commissioner Mike Causey and N.C. Firefighter Association financial director Dean Coward. Photo by Samantha Sinclair
Grape Creek – Two local volunteer fire departments received $5,000 each on June 30 to help purchase new equipment.
State Rep. Kevin Corbin (R-Franklin) and state Insurance Commissioner/Fire Marshal Mike Causey made the trip down Joe Brown Highway to personally present the checks to the chiefs of the Grape Creek and Unaka volunteer fire departments, Joe Lanphere and Tylor Dockery.
“We’re glad to be able to do this,” Causey said.
“Thank you all for what you do.”
Only 100 fire departments across the state received the funding. Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina donated the money to help volunteer fire departments as part of its Rural NC Initiative. It was given to the N.C. Firefighters Fund and N.C. Firefighters Association to distribute in coordination with the N.C. Department of Insurance’s Office of the State Fire Marshal.
Lanphere said his department would use the funds to purchase new air packs, while Dockery said his department would likely get new turnout gear. Lanphere said the air packs are something he was looking at getting before learning his department qualified for the grant.
“And now we can afford it without having to worry about our budget,” he said, adding that the grant doesn’t require matching funds from the community. “We’re very thankful to have it.”
Some of the air packs his department has are more than 40 years old, and newer ones are much lighter. Air packs cost $2,500-4,500 depending on the brand and style, Lanphere said, and it’s time to update the equipment for the safety of his volunteers.
“If we can keep our firefighters safer, we can keep our residents safer,” he said.
The initiative earmarked a total $500,000 for rural fire departments to get safety equipment, with a goal of helping departments with a budget of $50,000 or less. Grape Creek’s budget is about $30,000 each year, while Dockery said the $5,000 would increase his budget by 14 percent.
Out of the 100 fire departments that received the funding, just over 30 were in the western part of the state. Bryson City, Robbinsville and Warne also received $5,000.