A Pittsburg County volunteer fire department gets FEMA grant

ALDERSON, Okla. (AP) -- A Federal Emergency Management Agency grant will allow the Alderson Volunteer Fire Department in Pittsburg County to update gear and equipment. <br/><br/>The Alderson Volunteer

Tuesday, August 31st 2004, 5:12 pm

By: News On 6

ALDERSON, Okla. (AP) -- A Federal Emergency Management Agency grant will allow the Alderson Volunteer Fire Department in Pittsburg County to update gear and equipment.

The Alderson Volunteer Fire Department received $19,089 through the federal Assistance to Firefighters Grants program. The money will replace bunker gear, update a truck and help with the firefighters' communications. "Some of our bunker gear is 15 years old," said Fire Chief Clemie Peppers. "After so many years it gets tattered, obsolete and worn."

Peppers said he has replaced three of the safety suits in the past six months and plans to use some of the grant money to replace more. "Those things cost about $1,000 apiece, so you can see the money's going to be going pretty quick," he said. Officials plan to use about $9,000 of the grant funds to upgrade one of the department's two brush trucks.

Peppers said he also plans to use some of the money to replace radio equipment.