The North Carolina Office of State Fire Marshal announced the recipients of the 2024 Volunteer Fire Department Fund, also known as Fire Grant, on May 15.
Two departments in Chatham County received almost $23,000 between them. Bennett Fire was awarded $10,586 and Bonlee Fire received $12,318. The money will go towards new equipment and must be paired with matching funds.
"Fire and rescue organizations protect our communities large and small across North Carolina, but sometimes their budgets don't grow with their responsibilities," stated Brian Taylor, State Fire Marshal in the announcement. "Our emergency service personnel should be supported with the best equipment and supplies needed to do their jobs correctly and safely."
The letters notifying each fire department of the grant award and thanking them for their hard work and dedication were sent last week.
According to the OSFM these funds must be matched dollar-for-dollar for up to $40,000, unless the fire department receives less than $50,000 per year from municipal and county funding, in which case the volunteer fire department will need to match $1 for each $3 of grant funds. The grant award is administered through the NC Department of Insurance.
The Volunteer Fire Department Fund was created in 1988 by the General Assembly to help volunteer units raise funds for their firefighting equipment and supplies.