The North Carolina Office of State Fire Marshal has awarded the Darlington Volunteer Fire Department a $13,460 grant from its 2020 Volunteer Fire Department Fund.

The check will be mailed to Chief Richard Pulley to be used by the department to purchase needed equipment. The equipment is purchased using matching funds and must be approved by the Department of Insurance Office of State Fire Marshal.

"Fire and rescue organizations protect our communities large and small across North Carolina, but sometimes their budgets don't grow with their responsibilities," state Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey said. "Our emergency service personnel should be supported with the best equipment and supplies needed to do their jobs correctly and safely."

Said Causey in a press release, "I know the Darlington Fire Department will use this money to serve their community even better. Thank you, Chief Richard Pulley, for all of your hard work and thanks to your dedicated staff."

Pulley said the fire department will use the funds to buy turnout gear, hydraulic cutters for extrication, spare air pack bottles, radios and pagers, and a four gas monitor used for carbon monoxide detection. 

“The members of the Darlington Volunteer Fire Department would like to thank OSFM for their support, as firefighting is a very expensive task,” Pulley said. “I would like to personally thank all the Darlington VFD members, past, present, and future for their support of our community.”