| Volunteers make it big in numbers throughout the fire service industry |
Georgia-Pacific Bucket Brigade initiative is awarding more than $100,000 in grants to help small town and rural community fire departments across the United States.
Every day, millions of people count on volunteer and rural community fire units to protect them and their property. More than 825,000 volunteer and small town firefighters do their jobs mostly without recognition and often without the latest equipment or training.
According to the National Volunteer Fire Council and the National Fire Protection Association, fire and rescue units with volunteers make up 86 percent of all firefighting units in the United States.
For the fifth year during October - National Fire Prevention Month - Georgia-Pacific through its Georgia-Pacific Bucket Brigade initiative is awarding more than $100,000 in grants to help small town and rural community fire departments across the United States meet their most critical needs. This year's grants will total $175,000, the largest amount awarded in the program's history.
"We know first-hand the significant role these fire units play in the life of a community. The Georgia-Pacific Bucket Brigade is one way we say 'thank you' for their work," said Jim Hannan, CEO and President of Georgia-Pacific. "Many of our own employees are members of their local fire and rescue units, so we also know the need for the financial support necessary to safely continue the work these departments do."
Launched in 2006, the Georgia-Pacific Bucket Brigade has contributed more than $600,000 to rural and small town fire units in communities with Georgia-Pacific facilities. The program supports firefighters with cash donations for programming and purchasing necessary equipment, and with materials for fire safety education in local schools. This year's 25 Georgia-Pacific Bucket Brigade winners were chosen from more than 120 applicants in 23 states.
Georgia Pacific Bucket Brigade has contributed large amount of funds for small town fire units also |
2010 Georgia-Pacific Bucket Brigade Grant Winners:
- Ashford Fire Department, Ashford, AL, $5,000
- Enterprise Volunteer Fire Department, Clanton, AL, $5,000
- Excel Fire Department, Excel, AL, $10,000
- Flomaton Fire Department, Flomaton, AL, $10,000
- Putnam Volunteer Fire Department, Thomasville, AL, $10,000
- City of Madera Fire Department, Madera, CA, $5,000
- Avalon Volunteer Fire Department, Milton, FL, $10,000
- West Putnam Volunteer Fire Department, Hawthorne, FL, $5,000
- Clay County Volunteer Fire Department, Fort Gaines, GA, $5,000
- Jasper County Fire Department, Monticello, GA, $5,000
- Olive Fire Protection, Livingston, IL, $5,000
- Bluff Creek Volunteer Fire Department, Clinton, LA, $10,000
- New Augusta Volunteer Fire Department, New Augusta, MS, $5,000
- Mooers and South Plattsburgh Fire Departments, Champlain, NY, $5,000
- Climax Fire Department, Climax, NC, $5,000
- Conway Fire Department, Conway, NC, $5,000
- Spring Valley Volunteer Fire Department, Hulbert, OK, $10,000
- Clatskanie Fire Department, Clatskanie, OR, $10,000
- Eagle Fire Company #1, Mt. Wolf, PA, $5,000
- Allendale County Fire and Rescue, Allendale, SC, $5,000
- Sweetwater Fire Department, Sweetwater, TX, $5,000
- Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Department, Ridgeway, VA, $5,000
- Washaugal Volunteer Fire Department, Washaugal, WA, $10,000
- Oconto Falls Fire Department, Oconto Falls, WI, $10,000
- City of Peshtigo Fire Department, Peshtigo, WI, $10,000