11.9.2006
Washington, DC – Southwest Missouri Congressman Roy Blunt’s office has informed officials in Pineville and Seligman Volunteer Fire Departments that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has awarded grants to purchase new firefighting vehicles. Spokesmen for both departments said the funds would be used to purchase new top-of-the-line firefighting vehicles. Both grants require 5 percent local matching funds.
The grant for Pineville is $171,950. Pineville Mayor and Assistant Fire Chief Dawayne Lasiter, upon learning of the grant, said, “This is awesome. We run on volunteers and donations so this is an important improvement to our fire department that serves Pineville and surrounding areas.” Mayor Lassiter said the Pineville Rural Fire Department would purchase a 2,000 gallon pumper-tanker fire truck with the grant and retire its 1955 makeshift tanker model.
Seligman Area Rural Fire Association Grant Committee Chairman Eric Freeman said the $199,500 grant would be used to buy a new state-of-the-art pumper truck. “It will enhance our response time to fires, auto accidents and medical emergencies.” The Seligman Area Rural Fire Association serves residents in a 64 square-mile area in southern Barry County and neighboring Arkansas.
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