NEW EQUIPMENT RECEIVED IN 2008

The fire department’s 1997 Fire Safety House was replaced with a newer one.  The older training prop had become expensive to maintain due to its wear and age.  The roof had continued to leak and approximately $1,000.00 had been spent in this current budget year on other miscellaneous repairs.  Repairing the roof was estimated to cost in the thousands.  The 1997 Fire Safety House was purchased with corporate grants and the city only used funds to maintain it.  Every year several thousand children are given instruction on what to do in the event of a fire, how to use 911, home evacuations and other topics.  The replacement fire safety house is four years old and was purchased with a $52,000.00 federal grant by the City of South Charleston Fire Department.  South Charleston had used it only a few times and it looks brand new inside including the shipping plastic still being on the floors over the carpet.  Unless you new better you would think it just came from the factory.  St. Albans was fortunate to receive it as transferred property after getting approval from the federal government.

WATER RESCUE BOAT

     With two state grants and other state funding the fire department purchased a custom designed water rescue boat at a cost of $31,000.00.  The boat designed by our own Lou Wendell Marine has greatly improved our capability and reliability.  The new boat has a motor three times the size of the older one.  The new boat is wider and six foot longer.  The department purchased and installed a crane lifting system to remove potential victims from the water as well as any heavy objects such as evidence recovered for the police department.  The department upgraded all the communications and sonar equipment as well.  The boat was placed in service a few days before Riverfest and was a much needed improvement.  This boat is docked year round at Lou Wendell’s at no cost to the fire department