First responders get grants, courtesy of Flint Hills
Published 6:31 pm Tuesday, November 13, 2018
- Area first responders pose for a photo with representatives of Flint Hills Resources after receiving the Helping Heroes grant at Port Arthur Fire Department Station No. 1 on Tuesday. Mary Meaux/The News
Area first responders are feeling extra thankful courtesy of Flint Hills Resources’ Helping Heroes grant program.
On Tuesday, Flint Hills Resources awarded over $50,000 in grants to 13 first responders across southeast Texas for training, education, equipment and emergency notification needs.
Minutes after the program began at Port Arthur Fire Department’s Station No. 1 on Woodworth Boulevard the alarms went off and the voice of a dispatcher streamed across the station’s bay area and with lightning speed, a group of firefighters jumped in a truck and left.
“Southeast Texas is our home and we’re thankful for our first responders who provide essential services to our community,” Johnny Spell, site manager for Flint Hills Resources, said. “The funds distributed through the Helping Heroes program focuses on each department’s specific needs and helps these man ad women perform critical work for our community.”
PAFD Chief Larry Richard said the grant of $2,000 allows them to get supplies that might not be in the budget.
In this case it’s for costs associated with getting a bomb detection dog. The department’s bomb dog passed away last month, he said. They have received some help from industry and the check from Flint Hills will help with costs associated with the dog such as training for the handler and building a kennel for the new dog.
Port Neches Fire Chief Paul Nelson said the grant for $6,415 that the department received will go toward the purchase of a thermal imaging camera.
“This will get us so we have one in every truck,” Nelson said.
The department has two engine trucks, one ladder truck, one rescue truck and an assistant chief’s truck. The cameras can be taken immediately into a fire so the firefighters can begin assessing the scene.
The 2018 grand recipients are: Port Arthur Fire Department, Port Arthur Police Department, Port Neches Fire Department, Bridge City Fire Rescue, city of Orange Fire Department, Cove Fire and Rescue, Groves Fire Department, Hardin County Emergency Service District No. 5, Hardin County Sheriff’s Office, Jefferson County Emergency Service District No. 4, Mont Belvieu Fire Department, Old River-Winfree Volunteer Fire Department and Sour Lake Police Department.
Flint Hills Resources began the Helping Heroes grant program in 2012 to support fire departments and emergency responders in Texas communities. To date, the companies have awarded over $1 million in grants across the state.
The annual application period opens in June and recipients are selected during October by a team of internal and external safety experts, according to information from Flint Hills.