Hughesville Volunteers submitted a grant to the FEMA Assistance to Firefighters grant in an effort to receive funding to assist with replacing expired or damaged “bunker gear,” the protective clothing firefighters wear. Hughesville submitted the grant in coordination with other departments in Charles County, including Benedict VFD, Tenth District VFD, Dentsville VFD, and Bryan’s Road VFD.

The announcement was published that the grant had been awarded to us and the other departments. The grant totals $480,000, which will be utilized to purchase 110 sets of bunker gear for these departments.

This grant is huge for our area, as it protects our responding members and helps with the financial burdens placed on the departments when life-saving equipment is damaged and retired before its scheduled expiration date.

We would also like to thank the members from all the named departments who worked tirelessly to compile the information needed to submit for the grant. Their hard work paid off with this announcement.