$17,075.33 Grant Awarded to Ayden Fire Department

RALEIGH - Insurance Commissioner and State Fire Marshal Jim Long announced that the Ayden Fire Department was awarded a $17,075.33 grant through the 2008 Volunteer Fire Department Fund from the State of North Carolina.

The check will be mailed to Chief Barry Wood 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”, Commissioner Long said. “Our emergency service personnel should be supported with the best equipment and supplies needed to do their jobs correctly and safely.“

“I know the Ayden Fire Department, will use this money to serve their community even better”, Long added. “Thank you, Chief Barry Wood, for all of your hard work and thanks to your dedicated staff.“

Ayden Fire Department has received a total of $88,199.25 from the Volunteer Fire Department Fund in the past 21 years since the program began. The General Assembly created the Volunteer Fire Department Fund in 1988 to help volunteer units raise money for equipment and supplies. The grant funds must be matched dollar-for-dollar, up to an approved amount, by monies raised locally to purchase necessary equipment. During Commissioner Long’s tenure in office, the Department of Insurance has distributed more than $57 million to volunteer fire departments across the state.