Prichard Fire Depatments Improvements

Posted on: Oct 28th, 2016 | News and Announcements

Prichard Fire Department Improvements Improvements valued at nearly a million dollars are slated for the Prichard Fire Department. The department is getting new equipment and a renovated station thanks to teamwork between the City of Prichard and the County of Mobile. Included in the upgrades is a complete overhaul of the Bullshead Fire Station, 21 sets of turnout gear, 10 AEDs, a new mini-pumper truck and an air compression system. The upgrades are funded by a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). ?Mayor Troy Ephriam submitted a request for our assistance and we were pleased to find funds through this federal grant program,? explained Mobile County Commissioner Merceria Ludgood. ?Public safety is our number one priority for our city and for our citizens. These improvements, made possible by the CDBG funding through the Mobile County Commission, help us continue to add to the improvements we have already completed to make Prichard safe and our neighborhoods stronger,? said Mayor Ephriam. Renovation of the station will include gutting the station and modernizing the equipment bay, living quarters, sleeping facilities and kitchen. The station is used for community events, including health checks and will be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Bids on the project will be opened on Nov. 16, with an estimated construction start date of early 2017. Twenty-one sets of personal protective equipment or turnout gear have already been purchased and delivered. This includes coats, pants, boots, helmets, gloves and hoods. A Cascading Compression System to refill firefighters? self-contained breathing apparatus tanks (SCBA) also is being purchased. In addition, 10 AED automated external defibrillator (AED) units were purchased for the fire rescue service. The mini-pumper was designed and built to standards specified by the Prichard Fire Department. When the Bullshead Station is renovated, the pumper will be housed there. Prichard Fire Chief Fred Chambers said the city is ?very fortunate to have received the grant funding and that it helps accomplish two of our major goals ? the purchase of a new 300 gallon mini-pumper and the complete renovation of our Number 4 Fire House (Bullshead Station) located on St. Stephens Road.?