Gretna and Midway fire departments receive state funding

• Departments and city leaders worked together to secure the funding during the last legislative session.
• They use this money to upgrade their equipment.
• Watch the video to see the interview with the two fire chiefs about how the money will benefit the community.

BROADCAST TRANSCRIPT
The Gretna and Midway fire departments received state funding to better serve neighbors. I'm Ashley Engle, Midway. Both departments and their city leaders worked together to receive this funding. I'm looking at how this money is going to be spent.

Money we really needed.

“We are extremely excited”

Midway Fire Chief Nathan Yarusso and Gretna Fire Chief Danny Hunter say this state funding will help keep their neighborhoods safe.

“This will significantly improve our ability to respond to a wide variety of incidents.”

Midway Fire received $1 million from the state while Gretna Fire Rescue received $474,000.

The two departments and their city leaders worked together to get the money approved during the last legislative session.

“We can't start thinking about fires today, we have to start thinking about the fire growth we'll have five years from now.”

Both departments are acquiring new, state-of-the-art fire trucks and equipment to protect the men and women who serve.

“This truck will be the Swiss army knife of fire trucks. It will be capable of fighting fires and responding to hazardous materials.”

0unter and Yarusso say Gadsden County has 31 miles of highway to cover.

This includes the intermediate interchange…one of the busiest in the region.

Call volume has increased for departments.

“We are going to purchase execration equipment with these new trucks. We are going to have two rapid response vehicles and a rapid response mini-pump. This will allow us to get to emergencies more quickly.”

Both departments tell me they expect to receive their new trucks in the coming months.