In the wake of two fires that killed four people in Atmore, the fire department is now $4,000 richer thanks to a grant from state Sen. Marc Keahey.

Keahey, D-Grove Hill, presented $4,000 to the Atmore Fire Department this week in order to assist in upgrading and purchasing new supplies or equipment.

Keahey presented the check to AFD Assistant Chief Mike Staples following two fatal fires in Atmore within 10 days of each other.
Keahey said the department had suffered tragedy with four deaths in such a short period.

“They do a good job in Atmore and have worked extremely hard lately and hopefully this will help,” Keahey said. “They need it now more than ever.”

Atmore Fire Chief Gerry McGhee said the money will be of great use to the AFD.

“We’re just glad that he donated it to us so that we can put it to good use,” McGhee said.

Although AFD officials have not yet determined specifically how they will spend the grant money, McGhee said the funds would be used to upgrade or purchase new equipment for the department.

New equipment will certainly be useful as the temperatures drop and more Atmore residents begin cranking up the heat. The first of Atmore’s recent fatal fires was determined to have begun from an oven left open as a source of heat.

For the AFD, the coming months could produce similar occurrences that new equipment could aid in combating.

The Atmore Fire Department, located on Ridgely Street, has 17 full-time firemen and 10 volunteers.