The dire needs and lack of funding at rural emergency response companies caught the attention of a South Dakota organization that formed seven years ago to financially help families of fallen first responders, law enforcement officers and military soldiers, MitchellRepublic.com reported. After learning of the challenges volunteer fire departments are up against, an organization called South Dakota Salutes developed a special needs fund to provide them with updated equipment and protective gear.

On Thursday, leaders of South Dakota Salutes trekked to Fedora to donate a pair of checks to the Fedora and Woonsocket volunteer fire departments, giving them funds to update critical equipment to enhance their ability to respond to fires and emergencies. Woonsocket received $2,500, while Fedora got $5,000, the report said.

The donations from South Dakota Salutes provided SBCA breathing air cylinder bottles that are vital in taking on fires, according to the report.

The 44-member West Point Fire Department has requested over $1.7 million for new equipment, but Army headquarters only funded the unit for $96,000, MidHudsonNews.com reported.

On Wednesday, U.S. Senator Charles Schumer was at the military academy calling for Washington to approve the rest of the money so that new, modern equipment can be purchased, the report said.

Connor Miller, president of Local F-7 of the International Association of Firefighters, said it is difficult to operate with their current budget, according to the report.

With one of its fire trucks out of service, the West Point department has borrowed a truck from the Veterans Administration, the report said.

The West Point department is often called out under mutual aid to assist neighboring communities and sometimes asked to drive over Storm King Mountain to assist the City of Newburgh Fire Department, the report said.

Alia Malik
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
(TNS)

The Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday approved a sole-source contract of $5.7 million with Stryker Sales Corp. for equipment that will go in the county’s ambulances.

The initial term of the contract costs almost $1.4 million and runs through the end of this year, but it can be renewed annually for a total of three years, according to county documents.

The equipment to be purchased includes power stretchers and systems to safely load and carry patients to and from ambulances, Fire Chief Russell Knick told commissioners. The contract also covers chairs to carry patients up and down stairs and automated mechanical chest compression equipment for patients in cardiac arrest.

“That device actually allows our staff to be able to continue high quality CPR even when you’re moving patients, frees up hands for IV use, push medications and things like that,” Knick said.

The contract also includes a service agreement and preventative maintenance for all the equipment, he said.

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services has 51 front-line and reserve medical vehicles, according to the sole-source approval forms. The department has 48 Stryker stair chairs in its transport and rescue units and 47 power stretchers. The sole-source contract allows the department to standardize the equipment that firefighters train on, according to purchasing staff.

©2023 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Visit at ajc.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

The Atlanta City Council approved legislation put forth by the Dickens Administration for $4.7 million in funding for the acquisition of additional equipment for the Atlanta Fire Rescue Department (AFRD), the city announced Tuesday in a press release.

AFRD will acquire three Spartan Fire Pumpers and three Spartan Tractor Drawn Aerial Support vehicles.

“As Atlanta continues to grow, so does the need for additional capacity to effectively respond to emergency situations,” said Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens. “The expansion of our AFRD fleet will help decrease response times, increase our readiness and improve the overall safety of our communities. Thank you to City Council for their assistance in building One Safe City.”

In 2021, the city council approved legislation in support of the city’s plan to acquire additional apparatus after AFRD and the Office of Fleet Services established specific vehicles are required to guarantee the Department will continually provide emergency services and meet the needs in Atlanta.

“This equipment is vital for the advancement of AFRD,” said AFRD Chief Rod Smith. “Over the last several months, I have spoken in depth with City administration about how the Atlanta Fire Department is operating diligently to serve our communities. I thank Mayor Dickens and the City Council for their willingness and continued support to preserve the best-in-class service to the citizens and property of the City of Atlanta, together.”

Mayor Dickens previously announced a pay increase to recruit and retain Atlanta Firefighters.

Tuesday’s announcement will be in conjunction with the city’s $92.4 million investment in public safety, including $69.3 million for fire station renovations throughout the city.

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For more information about the City of Atlanta, please visit www.atlantaga.gov or watch City Channel 26. Follow the City of Atlanta on Facebook and Twitter @CityofAtlanta.