WEST BLOCTON, Ala. — The West Blocton Volunteer Fire Department is requesting $50,000 in funding via a GoFundMe account.
The department is asking the community to help raise money to update, upgrade and expand its services.
“You get enough fires and enough heat, it does start to deteriorate the material and, contrary to popular belief, they can start on fire,” firefighter Ethan Mccool told ABC3340. “If you’re in the time and need, you want somebody to be there for you and that’s all we’re trying to do.”
Although the department receives an annual check of $16,000, they are hoping to add the $50,000 to their budget.
“Just more up-to-date stuff is what’s really going to tremendously turn this fire department around and help us out better to where we can do what we need to do and get the job done safely, not only for us, but the community as well,” Mccool said.
The funds would be allocated toward maintaining vehicles, purchasing new equipment and including medical calls as part of their services.
“Our rescue trucks are mainly for wrecks, patient extrication from vehicle crashes, and we’re trying to work our way into the medical side of things, we just need the training for it and sometimes that’s hard because we don’t have the funds for it,” said Assistant Fire Chief Clinton Hardemon.
To donate, visit the department’s GoFundMe page.