How the Grant Has Helped:

Almarante Fire Department's 2002 Assistance to Firefighters grant purchased this initial attack vehicle, which can access rough terrain and areas that are inaccessible to their 1969 pumper.

The Almarante Fire Department provides fire protection and emergency medical services to approximately 1,200 residents living within an 86-square mile area in rural Okaloosa County, located in Florida 's northwest panhandle. The Department covers the community of Almarante and its surrounding area, including the area around Laurel Hill and Highway 85, a main evacuation route during hurricanes and other disasters. Almarante is frequently the first responder to emergencies on the panhandle, which is at high risk for wildland fires. Their area includes approximately 600 acres of undeveloped land. The Department participates in a mutual aid agreement with fire departments in Laurel Hill, Blackman, Dorcas, and North Okaloosa.

Among the difficulties facing the Department are narrow, unpaved, often inaccessible roads, and an unpredictable water supply. They receive 60 to 80 calls per year, primarily for medical emergencies and brush fires. Almarante is the closest secondary response unit for Laurel Hill, which is designated an “urban-wildland interface community within the vicinity of Federal lands that are at high risk from wildfire” by virtue of its location near Eglin Air Force Base.

"The new vehicle is easier to operate and safer for firefighters to use. It can cover unpaved roads and wildland areas without being hindered by its water load," Assistant Chief Andrew Reed Almarante Volunteer Fire Department

Prior to receiving its 2002 Assistance to Firefighters grant, the Department's slim staff of 6 to 10 part-time firefighters had only a 1969 pumper to use when answering calls. The 32-year-old pumper was difficult to maneuver and could not access many of the rural areas where the Department needed to go. Being poorly equipped to do their jobs hurt the morale of the firefighters, and their membership declined.

With the grant, Almarante purchased a multifunction initial attack vehicle with a 250-gallon water tank and 20-gallon foam tanks. The attack truck responds more swiftly and can be deployed for wider variety of situations and emergencies than the old pumper, says Assistant Chief Andrew Reed. “The new vehicle is easier to operate and safer for firefighters to use. It can cover unpaved roads and wildland areas without being hindered by its water load,” Reed observes. “We also use t he attack vehicle to prepare landing zones for medical helicopters in areas that the pumper would never be able to access.”

Now, when structure fires occur, the Department takes both the attack vehicle and the pumper out to answer the call. Assistant Chief Reed knows from experience that the attack vehicle has improved the Department's response time for EMS and fire calls. He recalls one occasion when both the new attack truck and the ‘69 pumper were sent to the same structure fire call. “The pumper arrived at the scene at least 10 minutes later than the attack truck even though both vehicles left the station at the same time.”

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