SVVFD assistant chief Chris Vaughan, up top, loads donated hose onto a fire truck Tuesday with the assistance of Gavin Gilliam, left, and Don Hyatt, right.
SVVFD assistant chief Chris Vaughan, up top, loads donated hose onto a fire truck Tuesday with the assistance of Paul Seal, left, and Jason Murrell, right.
SVVFD assistant chief Chris Vaughan, up top, loads donated hose onto a fire truck Tuesday with the assistance of (L-R) Paul Seal, Gavin Gilliam, and Jason Murrell. HCVFA president Bill Killen is seated.
A list of the surplus fire and rescue equipment that arrived this week in Hawkins County from Maryland.
This past week the AFRF donated hundreds of feet of large diameter fire hose, nozzles, hose clamps, protective clothing, as well as medical equipment to the non-profit Hawkins County Volunteer Fireman’s Association (HCVFA), which distributed the items to local agencies.
This past week AFRF donated hundreds of feet of large diameter fire hose, nozzles, hose clamps, protective clothing, as well as medical equipment to the non-profit Hawkins County Volunteer Fireman’s Association (HCVFA), which distributed the items to local agencies.
This past week AFRF donated hundreds of feet of large diameter fire hose, nozzles, hose clamps, protective clothing, as well as medical equipment to the non-profit Hawkins County Volunteer Fireman’s Association (HCVFA), which distributed the items to local agencies.
Bill Killen, right, sorts through some of the equipment donated to Hawkins County earlier this week.
Bill Killen, right, sorts through some of the equipment donated to Hawkins County earlier this week.
SVVFD assistant chief Chris Vaughan, up top, loads donated hose onto a fire truck Tuesday with the assistance of Gavin Gilliam, left, and Don Hyatt, right.
SVVFD assistant chief Chris Vaughan, up top, loads donated hose onto a fire truck Tuesday with the assistance of Paul Seal, left, and Jason Murrell, right.
SVVFD assistant chief Chris Vaughan, up top, loads donated hose onto a fire truck Tuesday with the assistance of (L-R) Paul Seal, Gavin Gilliam, and Jason Murrell. HCVFA president Bill Killen is seated.
A list of the surplus fire and rescue equipment that arrived this week in Hawkins County from Maryland.
This past week the AFRF donated hundreds of feet of large diameter fire hose, nozzles, hose clamps, protective clothing, as well as medical equipment to the non-profit Hawkins County Volunteer Fireman’s Association (HCVFA), which distributed the items to local agencies.
This past week AFRF donated hundreds of feet of large diameter fire hose, nozzles, hose clamps, protective clothing, as well as medical equipment to the non-profit Hawkins County Volunteer Fireman’s Association (HCVFA), which distributed the items to local agencies.
This past week AFRF donated hundreds of feet of large diameter fire hose, nozzles, hose clamps, protective clothing, as well as medical equipment to the non-profit Hawkins County Volunteer Fireman’s Association (HCVFA), which distributed the items to local agencies.
Bill Killen, right, sorts through some of the equipment donated to Hawkins County earlier this week.
Bill Killen, right, sorts through some of the equipment donated to Hawkins County earlier this week.
SURGOINSVILLE — Funding shortages are always an issue for rural Hawkins County volunteer fire departments, which is why a gift Tuesday of nearly $8,000 worth of used 5-inch hose was greatly appreciated by the Stanley Valley VFD.
That hose, along with a variety of other fire and rescue equipment, was donated by the Maryland-based America’s First Responders Foundation (AFRF), an organization that helps first responders and communities prepare for emergencies.
The AFRF has donated surplus fire equipment to volunteer fire departments in Hawkins and Hancock counties several times over the past 12 years.
This past week the AFRF donated hundreds of feet of 5-inch diameter fire hose, nozzles, hose clamps, protective clothing, and medical equipment to the nonprofit Hawkins County Volunteer Fireman’s Association (HCVFA), which distributed the items to local agencies, including the hose donated to the SVVFD.
Goshen Valley VFD received tools, a Kendrick extraction device, an Elkhart 300-1,000 gallon per minute nozzle, and a stair stretcher.
Hawkins County EMS received seven portable impact suction units, and miscellaneous equipment went to the Seymour and Treadwell VFDs in Hancock County.
The HCVFA also received a Champion generator and will be responding to emergencies as needed with that generator for use in refilling firefighters’ air tanks and/or other portable electricity needs such as powering lights.
HCVFA President Bill Killen noted that the equipment distributed Tuesday was surplus and not needed by some larger agencies in Maryland, but it is a godsend to the departments in rural Hawkins and Hancock counties.
SVVFD Assistant Chief Chris Vaughan, as well as members Paul Seal and Gavin Gilliam, picked up their department’s donation of 5-inch hose Tuesday afternoon at the Surgoinsville home of HCVFA treasurer Don Hyatt, who is a retired Atlanta fire chief.
The 5-inch hose will replace the 2.5-inch hose currently on the SVVFD backup fire truck. The larger hose enables more water to flow more swiftly to put out fires.
“We have a really nice engine, but we didn’t have anything to use as a backup, so fortunately we got with the Treadway fire department and purchased this (backup fire truck) from them,” Vaughan said. “It’s not the best by any means, it’s not the newest, but it will get the job done in the event our new one goes down. … This (backup truck) is the only one that doesn’t have 5-inch hose and accessories, and we’ll be able to use it just like our main engine.”
Such contributions are huge for small departments like the SVVFD. The donated hose would have cost nearly $8,000.
Vaughan added, “The (backup) truck is older than I am, and keeping that running is where the money goes. We get a small amount of money from the county, and a bare minimum amount to stay alive.”
You no longer have to be a firefighter or first responder to be a member of the Hawkins County Volunteer Fireman’s Association.
Before submitting ludicrous resolutions, the Hawkins County’s Budget Committee should contact the county clerk if they want to see the fire departments' financial records and pay attention the next time a resolution is read in session, particularly to the three conditions that have been a part of every resolution for contributions over the past five years.
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