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West Virginia American Water Awards Over $26,000 to Local Fire Departments Across the State

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Aug. 21, 2024) – West Virginia American Water announced today the recipients of its 12th annual Firefighting Support Grant program. This year, the company will provide over $26,000 in financial assistance to 29 fire departments and emergency management agencies located within the company’s service area.
 
“We are honored to invest in community fire services annually through our Firefighting Support Grant program,” said Rob Burton, president of West Virginia American Water. “Given that many of these volunteer-led organizations operate without full-time staff, our support is essential for keeping their doors open and their vital services available to residents throughout West Virginia."
 
Since 2013, West Virginia American Water’s Firefighting Support Grant has awarded 163 totaling over $156,000 to fire departments and emergency management agencies across the state.
 
The program covers a wide range of fire department expenses associated with personal protective gear, communications equipment, firefighting tools, water handling equipment, training and related activities that will be used to support community fire protection. The Sissonville Volunteer Fire Department was one of the recipients of this year’s grant program. 
 
“With the gracious assistance from West Virginia American Water, the Sissonville Volunteer Fire Department members and our swift water team will receive new equipment,” said Patrick Coles, assistant chief. “It is very important that our members have equipment in good working condition so that they can serve and protect our community.”
The Blue Ridge Volunteer Fire Department in Harper’s Ferry was also a recipient of this year’s grant program. 
 
“The members of the Blue Ridge Mountain Volunteer Fire Company would like to thank West Virginia American Water for their generosity,” said Warre Royce Jr., assistant fire chief. “This new equipment funded with our grant will provide our firefighters with a state-of-the-art tool to remove windshields and glass from vehicles involved in motor vehicle accidents, allowing for better access and patient care to those that travel the roadways in our response area.”
 
A team of West Virginia American Water employees selected the grant recipients through a rigorous screening and application review process. The selected organizations and their funding fulfilments are:
 
Boone County:
  • Danville Volunteer Fire Department ($938) to purchase 2 Milwaukee M18 battery powered 16” chainsaw and leaf blower bundles
  • Whitesville Fire Department ($1,000) to purchase AEDs for each fleet vehicle
Braxton County:
  • Braxton County Office of Emergency Services ($817.90) to purchase two swivel couplings with long ears for hydrant hook up
Cabell County:
  • Huntington Fire Department ($398.85) to purchase a 20V bandsaw tool, three bandsaw blades, one abrasive metal cutting blade and one concrete cutting wheel
  • Culloden Volunteer Fire Department ($1,000) to purchase one ascender/descender device, five carabiners and one 150-foot rope for rescues
  • Ohio River Road Volunteer Fire Department ($997.12) to purchase eight particulate blocking fire hoods
Fayette County:
  • Ansted Certified Fire Department ($1,000) to purchase large diameter pressure relief valve
  • Fayetteville Fire Department ($1,000) to purchase new helmets and wildland firefighting PPE
Jefferson County:
  • Blue Ridge Mountain Volunteer Fire Department ($1,000) to purchase JYD Industries glass knife kit with 18V Drill and HD Electric Fixed Length Fiberglass Hot Stick
Kanawha County:
  • Belle Fire Department ($1,000) to purchase updated SCUBA diving equipment and five buoyancy control compensators for divers
  • East Bank Volunteer Fire Department ($810.00) to purchase Nomex firefighting hoods
  • Institute Volunteer Fire Department ($1,000) to purchase CAPTOs, intuitive devices that combines a multi-functional rope grab to improve safety and rope rescue time
  • Nitro Fire Department ($982) to purchase ropes for technical rescues, a rope bag and four carabiners
  • Pinch Volunteer Fire Department ($826.08) to purchase 20 gallons of Novacool form
  • Rand Volunteer Fire Department ($1,000) to purchase and install doors, windows and special vents for a fire training structure
  • Sissonville Fire Department ($959.80) to purchase four NRS Rapid responder personal flotation devices
  • Tyler Mountain Volunteer Fire Department ($982) to purchase ropes for technical rescues, a rope bag and four carabiners
Lewis County:
  • Jane Lew Volunteer Fire Department ($995) to purchase five extrication suits through Propper Manufacturing
  • Weston Volunteer Fire Department ($997.13) to purchase two fire hooks, an unlimited tool combo and two SC Products CitroSqueeze PPE Turnout gear cleaner
Lincoln County:
  • Hamlin Volunteer Fire Department ($838.91) to purchase a replacement of damaged hard suction hose and appliances necessary for transferring water for fire suppression
Mercer County:
  • Oakvale Volunteer Fire Department ($981) to purchase new fire hoses
Putnam County:
  • Bancroft Volunteer Fire Department ($175) to purchase lifting strap for patients
  • Eleanor Volunteer Fire Department ($1,000) to purchase one Milwaukee 18V Hackzall, one Milwaukee 18V Sawzall, one Milwaukee 18V 16” chainsaw and one Milwaukee 18V battery and charger
Summers County:
  • Jumping Branch-Nimitz Volunteer Fire Department ($740.40) to purchase two ratcheting fire hydrant wrenches
  • Summers County Volunteer Fire Department ($842.70) to purchase AED equipment
Wayne County:
  • Ceredo Volunteer Fire Department ($980.21) to purchase replacement first responder high visibility traffic vests
Webster County:
  • Diana Volunteer Fire Department ($1,000) to purchase pressure reducing valve for hydrants
  • Hacker Valley Volunteer Fire Department ($1,000) to purchase pressure reducing valve for hydrants
  • Webster Springs Volunteer Fire Department ($949.97) to purchase CMC Clutch and a Sterling 7mm Sewn Prusik to be used with rope rescue equipment
About American Water 
American Water (NYSE: AWK) is the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States. With a history dating back to 1886, We Keep Life Flowing® by providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable drinking water and wastewater services to more than 14 million people with regulated operations in 14 states and on 18 military installations. American Water’s 6,500 talented professionals leverage their significant expertise and the company’s national size and scale to achieve excellent outcomes for the benefit of customers, employees, investors and other stakeholders. 
 
For more information, visit amwater.com and join American Water on LinkedInFacebookX and Instagram
 
About West Virginia American Water
West Virginia American Water, a subsidiary of American Water, is the largest regulated water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water services to approximately 600,000 people.