OKTIBBEHA COUNTY, Miss. (WCBI) – Fighting fires—and responding to medical emergencies—requires significant resources, and volunteer fire departments often rely on grants to cover costs.
The Gary Sinise Foundation has awarded $58,000 to the Oktibbeha Volunteer Fire Department to help purchase equipment and fund training.
In addition to firefighting, the department responds to medical calls across the county. The grant will help purchase essential gear, including hoses, turnout gear, and AEDs, which are vital for emergency medical situations like heart attacks and strokes.
“Not only the firefighting equipment… but these AEDs really come in handy. We respond to every call in the county,” said Oktibbeha Fire Coordinator Patrick Warner.
The Gary Sinise Foundation grants are highly competitive, distributing about $3 million nationwide each year.
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