By By Lisa Tindell
Firefighters of all ages were dreaming of waking up on Christmas morning to the site of a new, shiny fire engine. Those dreams and wishes came true a little early for the firefighters with the Nokomis Volunteer Fire Department.
On Dec. 4, members of the department received a present courtesy of grant funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
Chris McGhee, assistant fire chief with the department, said he wrote the grants that got the funds in place for the vehicle.
The nearly $200,000 vehicle didn’t come without some sacrifices by the department, McGhee said.
The new truck will replace an outdated vehicle the department had been using for many years, McGhee said.
Writing applications for grants to purchase fire trucks isn’t something new for McGhee.
Nokomis VFD Board Chairman Wayne Hubbard said the word of the grant came late last year, but delivery of the truck was delayed.
The grant award that made the truck purchase possible wasn’t the only gift the department received this year, McGhee said.
McGhee said the additional grant allowed the department to upgrade some equipment and add new equipment to their inventory.
McGhee said the equipment gear and the new truck will be a benefit to those firefighters in Nokomis who put their lives on the line when they answer a call.
Nokomis VFD Chief Jackie Odom said he was proud of the truck and the additional equipment made possible through the FEMA grants.