CONTACT INFORMATION:
Kate Armitage, Director
Arts, Recreation, Parks & Communication
City of Millington
karmitage@cityofmillington.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CHRISTMAS WISH COMES TRUE FOR MILLINGTON FIRE DEPARTMENT
MILLINGTON, TENNESSEE (DECEMBER 30, 2013) – In 1939, the DuPont Chemical Company in Millington donated their fire truck to the City of Millington. It became the first in a line of fire trucks used to protect the public from fire and other related hazards. It served the community well until it was retired in 1954. Thanks to a generous grant and support from the Board of Mayor and Aldermen a brand new, state-of-the-art, fully equipped Pierce Fire Truck was put into service this month to protect and serve the community. The Millington Fire Department was fortunate to receive a 95% (AFG) - 5% (City of Millington) award from the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG). The primary goal of the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) is to meet firefighting and emergency response needs of fire departments and nonaffiliated emergency medical service organizations. Since 2001, AFG has helped firefighters and other first responders to obtain critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training and other resources needed to protect the public and emergency personnel.
The new Pierce Fire Truck, housed at Station 4, was put into service on December 1, 2013. The department had been operating a 1997 model for frontline service and a 35-year-old model for reserve service. Despite best efforts to keep all equipment in optimum working order some things were simply wearing out. There was no question the Millington Fire Department needed a new fire truck, but with a $387,000 price tag for a fully equipped model, it remained on the department’s wish list until recently. Support from the Assistance to Firefighters Grant and the Board of Mayor and Aldermen brought the wish to fruition. The new fire truck is expected to serve the community for many years to come. The life expectancy of the fire truck is over 20 years of frontline service and 15 of reserve service.
“We were very blessed to receive this grant,” said Gary Graves, Millington Fire Chief. “The vehicle grant is the most competitive grant awarded by the AFG program. The department is in a good position now with equipment thanks to the generous support of AFG and the City of Millington,” said Graves. The Board of Mayor and Aldermen not only agreed to provide the $17,500, which was the City’s 5% match for the grant, but also voted to provide $50,000 for new equipment to fully stock the new fire truck. This made it possible for each fire truck to be fully equipped with needed life saving apparatus. “Newer equipment helps improve our firefighters’ ability to protect the community,” said Michael Chesney, Millington’s Interim City Manager. “This new emergency response vehicle will improve the safety of both the public and our firefighters for many years to come,” said Chesney.
Now that the new fire truck is in service, improved fire stations top the department’s wish list. “The current fire stations are not ADA compliant or built to meet the needs of our modern unisex infrastructure,” according to Fire Chief Gary Graves. Those facilities are utilized 24 hours per day, seven days a week and need attention,” said Graves.
ABOUT MILLINGTON, TENNESSEE
Located just minutes from Memphis, Millington enjoys an exceptional quality of life for an estimated 10,000 citizens. Quality education, recreation and economic growth make Millington a great place to live, work and play. Millington education offers both public and faith based, private schools and colleges, universities and technical institutions to serve the area. In 2004 the University of Memphis Millington Campus opened and offers undergraduate and graduate degrees in numerous fields of study. Millington is home to Naval Support Activity Mid-South, Ingram Micro, Memphis International Raceway, USA Stadium, Mirimichi and multiple other courses multi-golf courses demonstrating opportunities for economic growth and world-class recreation. Millington’s West Tennessee Regional Business Center, a publically owned business and industry center, features 1900 acres of prime industrial space with easy access to the Millington Regional Jetport and the Canadian National Railroad. True intermodal transportation and shipping, makes Millington the perfect place for business. Widely known as “Flag City, USA”, Millington truly offers the best of the Mid-South.
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