The Enterprise Volunteer Fire Department won a 2010 Georgia-Pacific Bucket Brigade grant after being chosen from more than 120 applicants in Georgia-Pacific facility communities in 23 states.

The program supports firefighters with cash donations for programming and purchasing necessary equipment, and with material for fire safety education in local schools.

New turnout gear will be purchased with the $5,000 that the Enterprise unit will receive.

“We appreciate being chosen for the Bucket Brigade grant,” said Amelia Headly, Chilton County rescue chief. “We are going to use the grant to buy three brand new pairs of turnout gear for our department that we would not be able to purchase without Georgia-Pacific’s help.”

For the fifth year, during October – National Fire Prevention Month – Georgia-Pacific through its Georgia-Pacific Bucket Brigade initiative has awarded more than $100,000 in grants to help small town and rural community fire departments across the United States meet their most critical needs. In all, the Georgia-Pacific Bucket Brigade has contributed more than $600,000 to rural and small town fire units.

According to the National Volunteer Fire Council and the National Fire Protection Association, fire and rescue units with volunteers make up 86 percent of all firefighting units in the United States.

“The grant awarded to the Enterprise Volunteer Fire Department is great news for Chilton County. The new equipment will help ensure the safety of our firefighters and improve the quality of life in our community,” said Kaye Clemmons, human resources management at Georgia-Pacific. “We are glad Georgia-Pacific could assist in helping this department to upgrade their firefighting equipment and training.”