Chief David Barron, District 6 Volunteer Fire Department (VFD), announced this week that the department had been awarded a $100,823 grant. The funds were awarded from the Assistance to Firefighters Grants program administered by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Provisions of the grant require $4,800 in matching local funds.

“The department had applied for this grant in May of 2009 for new personal protection equipment, SCBA’s and other equipment. This award will help in keeping our firefighters much safer,” commented Barron.

“District 6 strives to save lives and protect property for our community and surrounding communities. Any grants, awards, donations and gifts that we receive benefit our community and county through mutual aid. We have no boundaries as for helping people,” he continued.

“We would like to thank several persons for the help we received in obtaining this grant. First and foremost, God, without His blessings, we would be nowhere. Mr. Mike Lane guided and assisted us in writing this grant. Our Congressman, Mr. John Barrow, supported and influenced it from start to finish. This comes at a very economically stressed, short fall in our county. We all need to take a few minutes and thank God for all the blessings we’ve received. We know that God will always provide our need,” Barron added.

The grant awarded to the District 6 VFD was one of several totaling $268,389 that FEMA awarded to fire departments and emergency responders in the state of Georgia.