ELLERBE — Nearly $120,000 is coming to Richmond County from the Office of the State Fire Marshal to help five local volunteer fire departments.
The OSFM announced Tuesday that more than $12 million in grant funding has been approved through the Volunteer Fire Department Fund program for Fiscal Year 2026.
According to a press release, the OSFM received 647 applications from across the state by the March 1 deadline, with 463 departments approved.
Four of the five local departments are in the northern part of the county, with a total of $119,349.50 being awarded. Those departments and the amounts awarded are:
Two of those departments, East Rockingham and Mountain Creek, have been awarded new ratings within the past 10 months.
Click here to read about East Rockingham’s rating.
Click here to read about Mountain Creek’s rating.
“Volunteer firefighters are the backbone of emergency response in many of our North Carolina communities,” State Fire Marshal Brian Taylor said in a press release. “These grants provide critical equipment and resources that help keep firefighters safe while ensuring departments can continue protecting the people they serve.”
Grant funds are used for a variety of equipment needs, including turnout gear, hoses and extrication tools, as well as new trucks and construction projects.
Departments must submit invoices and proof of payment to OSFM by Sept. 30, 2026, in order to receive reimbursement, according to the press release, and departments must keep any equipment purchased through the program for at least five years.
