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Fire department reports grants and warns of hydrant gaps after Aldersgate response
Summary
Local fire officials reported receiving roughly $13,000 in combined grants and equipment (a $10,000 National Volunteer Fire Council/State Farm award plus a ~ $6,300 Forrester grant) for hose replacement and testing, and urged the court to consider funding or grant opportunities to address hydrant shortages exposed during a large local fire.
Fire representatives updated the Estill County Court on recent activity and funding, and raised concerns about water availability in parts of the county.
The department reported 38 runs in the third quarter and 193 for the year to date. A speaker described the Aldersgate fire as one of the largest recent incidents and estimated the response used between 25,000 and 30,000 gallons of water; crews relied on an unrelated pool for a temporary fill because nearby hydrants were unavailable.
"We probably used between 25 and 30,000 gallons," the speaker said when summarizing the Aldersgate response and noted hydrant removals after a flood had left some areas without fixed water sources.
The department also announced grant awards: Hartick Fire Department is one of three Kentucky departments to receive a roughly $10,000 grant from the National Volunteer Fire Council and State Farm to replace aging 3‑inch hose (the department said it received about 800 feet of new hose). The department also received a "Forrester" grant for about $6,300, half of which is reimbursable, for wildland and dual‑purpose equipment and hose‑testing gear.
Officials urged the court to consider grant or capital strategies to improve hydrant coverage in remote or flood‑impacted areas. No formal capital request or vote was recorded in the meeting transcript; the discussion remained at the level of reporting and options.
