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West Virginia American Water Awards over $19,000 to Local Fire Departments Across the State

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (Aug. 4, 2022) – West Virginia American Water announced today the recipients of its tenth annual Firefighting Support Grant program. This year, the company will provide $19,788 in financial assistance to 21 fire departments and emergency management agencies located within the company’s service area.

“This annual grant program remains a valuable, lifesaving resource for fire departments and emergency management agencies across the state,” said Robert Burton, president of West Virginia American Water. “We applaud our first responders who we consider heroes for continuing to serve on the frontlines every day to keep West Virginians safe and protected.” 

Since 2013, West Virginia American Water’s Firefighting Support Grant has awarded 134 grants totaling over $112,000 to fire departments and emergency management agencies across the state.

The program covers a wide range of fire department expenses associated with personal protective gear, communications equipment, firefighting tools, water handling equipment, training and related activities that will be used 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

  • Madison Volunteer Fire Department ($1,000) to purchase roof hooks and a tool combo kit
  • Racine Volunteer Fire Department ($1,000) to purchase firefighting helmets
  • Whitesville Volunteer Fire Department ($1,000) to fund "Stop the Bleed" training for trauma incidents

Cabell County

  • Barboursville Volunteer Fire Department ($1,000) to purchase Hex Armour Gloves
  • Huntington Fire Department ($1,000) to purchase cordless drills
  • Ohio River Road Volunteer Fire Department ($993) to purchase helmets, personal floatation devices and a confined space tripod

Fayette County

  • Oak Hill Fire Department ($1,000) to purchase helmet mounted Streamlights

Kanawha County

  • Chesapeake Volunteer Fire Department ($1,000) to purchase computers and printers
  • Glasgow Volunteer Fire Department ($795) to purchase NRS Rapid Rescuer Personal Floatation Devices
  • Institute Volunteer Fire Department ($962) to purchase throw bags for boat, personal floatation devices for adults, personal floatation devices for children and cargo net for recovery on swift water rescue boat
  • Nitro Fire Department ($900) to purchase rescue rope pieces
  • Pinch Volunteer Fire Department ($1,000) to purchase NovaCool foam to diffuse flames at accidents
  • South Charleston Fire Department ($806) to purchase ARM-LOC Water/Ice/Active Shooter Rescue Devices

Lewis County

  • Jackson's Mill Volunteer Fire Department ($810) to purchase Breakaway Traffic Safety Vests
  • Weston Volunteer Fire Department ($1,000) to purchase 2-Stroke Cycle Telescoping Power Pole Saw and fire hooks

Logan County

  • Lake Volunteer Fire Department ($1,000) to purchase a ground monitor

Mercer County

  • Bluefield Fire Department ($947) to purchase leaf blowers and a tool combo set
  • Oakvale Volunteer Fire Department ($989) to purchase a folding frame portable dump tank

Webster County

  • Hacker Valley Volunteer Fire Department ($586) to purchase a pressure reducing valve
  • Webster Springs Volunteer Fire Department ($1,000) to purchase pressure reducing valves

Statewide

  • West Virginia Military Authority ($1,000) to purchase gloves and helmets for forest firefighting missions

About West Virginia American Water

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 560,000 people. 

About American Water

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 6,400 dedicated professionals who provide regulated and regulated-like drinking water and wastewater services to more than 14 million people in 24 states. American Water provides safe, clean, affordable and reliable water services to our customers to help keep their lives flowing. For more information, visit amwater.com and diversityataw.com. Follow American Water on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

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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 560,000 people. For more information, visit www.westvirginiaamwater.com and follow West Virginia American Water on Twitter and Facebook.