February 1 - Congressman Zach Wamp announced that the South Claiborne Volunteer Fire Department in New Tazewell will soon receive much needed equipment to protect its volunteer fire fighters serving the community. The Volunteer Fire Department was recently awarded a grant to purchase new equipment from the Assistance to Fire Fighters grant program from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

“Claiborne County is fortunate to have such dedicated volunteers serving New Tazewell and providing additional support to the surrounding rural areas,” said Congressman Wamp. “The fire department will now be able to provide much needed equipment for its volunteers, allowing the fire fighters to respond to emergencies more quickly and be better protected as they help save lives.” 

The South Claiborne Volunteer Fire Department has 25 volunteer fire fighters who cover 35 square miles and provide secondary support for southeastern Claiborne County through mutual aid agreements. The department plans to use the operations and safety grant to purchase 17 sets of personal protective equipment for the volunteers to wear as they fight fires, four self-contained breathing apparatuses to help the fire fighters breathe in a hazardous environment, 1,000-2,000 feet of hose, nozzles, communications equipment, a portable fire pump and some equipment to aid in extrication.