The Roanoke Rapids Fire Department has been awarded a $476,000 Assistance to Firefighters grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, City Manager Kelly Traynham told the council Tuesday night.
Earlier this year the city council approved part of its American Rescue Plan funds to purchase a fire engine for the department which, along with the FEMA grant, will bring the city two fire engines.
“Two fire trucks have been a long-term need of the city,” Tryanham said in her report.
With the FEMA grant the city’s local match will be just over $130,000 but details will be determined as the city and fire department move forward with the process, Traynham said. “What we hope to do is to be able to realize savings with that and add to our current order.”
The city manager thanked Chief Jason Patrick and Assistant Chief Richard Cook for moving forward and preparing information for the FEMA grant process. “They have made that application for several years for that truck and after many rejections we finally got it this year.”
United States Congressman G.K. Butterfield and United States Senator Thom Tillis submitted letters in support of the grant, Traynham said.
She also thanked council members for their efforts to reach out to the federal legislators “and asking for support for our significant need.”
Patrick said this morning, “This is a very big deal. We’ve been applying for many years.”
The fire engine will be the second major grant the department has received from FEMA after getting 15 airpacks in 2016.
The truck coming through the FEMA grant will be one to replace engine 142, a 1991 model which is rife with problems.
Cook said engine 142 is in need of an engine rebuild, has a rusted pump, electrical issues, no air conditioning and is not up to current National Fire Protection Association safety standards.
“I’m ecstatic,” Cook said of receiving the grant. “It’s taking a lot of pressure off of us.”
The truck which has been ordered through ARPA funds is a 2024 E-One Typhoon pumper and will replace engine 141. The truck the department will get through the FEMA grant will be similar.
Patrick said, “Our goal once we get the new truck is our ladder truck will be going back to residential and business response.”
The fire chief said he expects the new engines will help some with the city’s ISO rating.
“We’ve been very fortunate and blessed through grants lately,” Patrick said, “And the support of some of our representatives, I feel that really helped.”
