SVFD requests financial assistance to purchase essential rescue tool and other equipment

By Sharon Estep

Brad Deaton from the Scottsburg Volunteer Fire Department (SVFD) presented a request for financial assistance to purchase essential rescue tools, including a large spreader, a cutter, and some batteries, at a recent redevelopment commission meeting.

The department has been able to secure a pickup truck through fundraising, and they are now looking to equip it for quicker response times, especially for vehicle accidents and medical calls on smaller roads, where a full fire engine is not as practical.

The SVFD handles about 1,200 calls annually and provides mutual aid to surrounding areas such a Vienna, Austin, and parts of Johnson. The volunteer side is responsible for handling numerous calls, and this new equipment would improve their ability to respond faster and more effectively. The department currently has a smaller combination tool for rescue but is seeking larger equipment to make their response unit more versatile and capable in situations such as vehicle extractions.

The equipment and truck they are looking to equip belong to the volunteer side of the department, which operates separately from the city-funded side. The city funds equipment and trucks for the paid staff, while the volunteers rely on fundraisers, like the golf scramble, to purchase the equipment. Deaton requested approximately $30,000, which would cover the cost of a large cutter, spreader, and batteries. The department specifically chose not to request additional equipment such as telescoping rams to avoid asking for too much, focusing only on the essential tools they need to better serve the community.

A motion was made to approve the request totaling $32,000 which passed unanimously. The amount was slightly increased from the original $30,000 request to account for potential price increases if the older model of the equipment is unavailable. An agreement was made they would pay based on the actual invoice, covering the tools and the batteries, as discussed. The commissioners expressed their support for the volunteer fire department and their efforts to improve safety and emergency response in the county.