Hiddenite Volunteer Fire Department

Fire Departments Receive Over $60,000

The Bethlehem and Hiddenite Volunteer Fire Departments each received a state grant of $30,000 on Nov. 14, 2008, enabling the purchase of big ticket items for both agencies.

Deputy Commissioner of Insurance for N.C., Joan Creasman, traveled to Alexander from her Asheville office to present the checks.

Bethlehem Fire Dept. has used the funds to purchase an air machine to refill air bottles used by firefighters in their breathing apparatus while working a fire. The department bought a Bauer UNICUS III high pressure breathing air compressor. This marks the station’s first grant from the Volunteer Fire Department Fund.

Hiddenite Volunteer Fire Dept. has used its $30,000 towards the recent move into a new toward the purchase of a two-story fire station, a few hundred feet west of the former location. The move was completed Oct. 1to the existing building. It has large bays for housing fire apparatus and is located adjacent to Hwy. 90 East.

Hiddenite Fire Department, Inc. has received a total of $60,160.12 from the Volunteer Fire Department Fund in the past 21 years since the program began.