Jacksonville, AL – The Jacksonville Fire Department (JFD) has received a $50,000.00 from the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG). These funds will be used to purchase rescue equipment for the department such as ropes and harnesses. Chief Kadle spoke to the Calhoun Journal and explained that while these items aren’t flashy they do save lives. He said it is often hard to go to the City Council and ask for $50,000 for ropes. It isn’t because they don’t support the fire department, but rather because it is just hard to explain that these types of items have a shelf-life and have to be replaced. He said it is sometimes easier to ask for the big items like firetrucks than the smaller, but needed equipment. This is the reason that the JFD has been aggressively pursuing grants over the last three years. Chief Kadle was also happy to note they have been very successful with the grants as well.
The fire department grants are considered competitive grants and each applicant is vetted and the department examined. There is always a need in the fist responder world and Chief Kadle respects that he has to work within a budget while still protecting the citizens he serves. Grants allow the needed monies to come in without stretching the city’s budget. He jokingly said, “Grants only cost sweat equity to apply for and our team is good at delivering that!.” This is the second grant received by JFD in the last few months as they were the recipient of a Fire House Subs grant in July. The grant season for 2023 will open in a few months and Chief Kadle and his team will be back at work applying for them at that time.
