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West Virginia American Water Awards $28,000 to Local Fire Departments

30 professional and volunteer fire departments in 10 counties throughout the company’s service areas to receive funds

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Aug. 24, 2020) – West Virginia American Water announced today the recipients of its seventh annual Firefighting Support Grant program. This year, the company will provide more than $28,000 in financial assistance to 30 fire departments and emergency management agencies located within the company’s service area.

“Now more than ever, our local fire departments need funding for community protection and emergency response efforts across West Virginia,” said Robert Burton, president of West Virginia American Water. “We’re honored to continue this program with a record number of recipients in 2020. We stand in support of the selfless first responders who keep our customers, employees and families safe every day.”

Since 2013, West Virginia American Water’s Firefighting Support Grant has provided 83 fire departments and emergency management agencies more than $65,000 for emergency and safety related items. This year’s program will donate more than $28,000 to 30 organizations across the state.

The program covers a variety of fire department expenses associated with personal protective gear, communications equipment, firefighting tools, water handling equipment, training and related activities to support community fire protection. A team of West Virginia American Water employees selected the grant recipients through a rigorous screening and application review process. The selected organizations and their funding fulfilments are:

Boone County

  • Lake Volunteer Fire Department ($662) for the purchase of fire hose valves
  • Whitesville Volunteer Fire Department ($925) for the purchase of flotation devices and swift water rescue equipment

Cabell County

  • Barboursville Volunteer Fire Department ($969) for the purchase of flood lights and a hose roller
  • Cabell County EMS ($1,000) for the purchase of a sanitizing machine
  • Ohio River Road Volunteer Fire Department ($1,000) for the purchase of breathing apparatuses
  • Tri-State Fire School Association ($990) for the purchase of firefighting gloves

Fayette County

  • Ansted Fire Department ($1,000) for the purchase of a stainless-steel intake relief valve for an engine
  • Oak Hill Fire Department ($1,000) for the purchase of firefighting helmets

Kanawha County

  • Belle Fire Department ($1,000) for the purchase of handheld emergency radios
  • Handley Volunteer Fire Department ($1,000) for the purchase of firefighting gloves
  • Institute Volunteer Fire Department ($938) for the purchase of hand tools and harnesses for rescue missions
  • Jefferson Volunteer Fire Department ($999) for the purchase of a power tool system
  • Malden Volunteer Fire Department ($1,000) for the purchase of firefighting gloves
  • Nitro Fire Department ($900) for the purchase of scuba dive tanks for underwater rescues
  • Pinch Volunteer Fire Department ($992) for the purchase of a band saw, cordless wrench, reciprocating saw and battery kits
  • Pratt Community Volunteer Fire Department ($948) for the purchase of safety vests, LED flare kits and survivor lights for automobile accidents  
  • Rand Volunteer Fire Department ($1,000) for the purchase of handheld emergency radios
  • South Charleston Fire Department ($850) for the purchase of a ladder and safety ropes
  • Tornado Volunteer Fire Department ($800) for the purchase of two thermal cameras for rescue missions
  • Tyler Mountain Volunteer Fire Department ($983) for the purchase of safety equipment for emergencies and accidents

Lewis County

  • Pricetown Volunteer Fire Department ($900) for the purchase of a wye, reciprocating saw kit, handheld blower and barrel strainer
  • Weston Volunteer Fire Department ($982) for the purchase of safety vests and LED traffic wands for emergencies and accidents

Logan County

  • Chapmanville Volunteer Fire Department ($870) for the purchase of water hose equipment

 Mercer County

  • Bluefield Fire Department ($1,000) for the purchase of particulate barrier hoods
  • Princeton Fire Department ($1,000) for the purchase of EMS bags for organized storage and secure transport of emergency equipment

Putnam County

  • Bancroft Volunteer Fire Department ($828) for the purchase of emergency personnel pagers
  • Culloden Volunteer Fire Department ($930) for the purchase of firefighting gloves
  • Eleanor Volunteer Fire Department ($1,000) for the purchase of cooling vests and a misting fan

Summers County

  • Hinton Fire Department ($1,000) for the purchase of flotation devices, dive knives, rescue helmets and throw bags for underwater rescues

 Webster County

  • Webster Springs Volunteer Fire Department ($1,000) for the purchase of emergency equipment

West Virginia American Water, a subsidiary of American Water (NYSE: AWK), is the largest investor-owned water utility in the state, providing high-quality and reliable water services to approximately 565,000 people. With a history dating back to 1886, American Water is the largest and most geographically diverse U.S. publicly traded water and wastewater utility company. The company employs more than 6,800 dedicated professionals who provide regulated and market-based drinking water, wastewater and other related services to 15 million people in 46 states. American Water provides safe, clean, affordable and reliable water services to our customers to make sure we keep their lives flowing. For more information, visit amwater.com and follow American Water on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

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Media Contact: 

Megan Hannah, External Affairs Manager 

Megan.Hannah@amwater.com

Office: (304) 340-2088

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www.westvirginiaamwater.com