Millions of dollars in grants help volunteer departments

Over five million dollars in Volunteer Strategic Assistance and Fire Equipment (V-SAFE) grants have been awarded to volunteer fire departments from all corners of South Carolina.

A total of 182 fire departments representing 40 counties across the state will receive nearly $5.2 million in funding this grant cycle, according to SC State Fire.

Departments deemed eligible for V-Safe grants are “chartered volunteer fire departments and chartered combination fire departments with a staffing level that is, at least, 50 percent volunteer” and can receive up to $30,000 during a three-year period.

The grants allow departments to upgrade equipment, provide training for firefighters, purchase apparatus and more, all with the goal of keeping South Carolina’s volunteer firefighters and the communities they serve safe.

“V-SAFE grants are a great opportunity for volunteer and combination departments, allowing them funding for much needed gear to serve their communities,” said Chief Keith Minick, current South Carolina State Firefighters’ Association president and chair of the V-SAFE committee. “Being volunteer based, a lot of these firefighters give their time, training and education to serve their communities for free, therefore the funding offsets costs and gives them the ability to fund recruitment and retention efforts.”

“As President of the South Carolina State Firefighters’ Association and Chief of Newberry Fire Department, we thank our House members and Senators for their support of the V-SAFE funding today and for years to come,” said Chief Minick.