BRISTOL — A handful of rural fire departments in the state have seen an equipment infusion.
The Florida Forest Service allocated $11.2 in federal surplus equipment to rural fire departments in 2014. The city of Bristol volunteer Fire Department was the only area department to receive equipment this year, receiving a 3-kilowatt generator and a draft pump.
Surplus equipment can include surplus military items like former four-wheel drive cargo trucks that can be converted for fire department uses. The Concord and Havana volunteer departments in Gadsden County each received cargo trucks and used them to rescue seven people during Dec. 27 flooding event on the Ochlocknee River.
“For $16,000 or $20,000 you can build a fire fighting unit,” said Matt Wendell, Florida Forest Service fire resources manager.
That was one of the reasons Jackson County Fire Chief Scott Birge has requested former cargo trucks for this year. He wants to convert them by placing the beds of current trucks, equipped with water on top.
“The forest services’ federal surplus and matching loan program are considerable resources we like to draw on,” Birge said.
Jackson County was one of several Panhandle counties and municipalities that have used the program in the past. Other fire departments participating include the Blountstown Volunteer Fire Department (VFD), Bonifay VFD, Chipley VFD and Ebro VFD.