Rural fire districts report equipment purchases, smoke-alarm program and recent mutual-aid responses

Committee members and staff reported Aug. 28 that Coffee County’s rural fire departments are active in equipment upgrades, public-safety outreach and mutual aid across the county.

The committee heard that Somerville is holding an annual picture drive fundraiser and that the department is using smoke-alarm program funds toward payment on a new brush truck to replace a 1978 model. Tim Morris read updates indicating Somerville’s volunteer ranks remain active. Staff also reported that North Coffee is exploring a used tanker or pumper located in upstate New York and that North Coffee recently worked a fatal interstate accident and a house fire at the lake that required extended mutual-aid effort overnight.

Fire departments are continuing smoke-detector installations for residents. Committee members said five houses received smoke detectors in the most recent reporting months, and staff reminded residents that the program is free and batteries last about 10 years. The committee also heard that local departments have replaced aging station infrastructure (including two garage doors at one station at an estimated cost of $12,000) and that a union-funded purchase of a cascade system is underway.

Committee members praised volunteers and noted that county spending on local department support—reported as a current expenditure in the hundreds of thousands—was described as markedly less expensive than creating a county-owned paid fire service. No formal votes were taken on rural fire matters at this meeting.