Grant money to go to CFD

Charleston will receive a $678,000 federal grant from the Department of Homeland Security that will help the city pay for firefighting equipment, local officials learned Wednesday.

Charleston Fire Chief Thomas Carr said the grant will allow the city to buy new equipment to help with vehicle rescues, systems to get diesel fumes from firetrucks out of fire stations and special washers and dryers for cleaning firefighting gear.

"It was equipment that would have been bought eventually, but we wouldn't have bought it now, given the current fiscal situation," Carr said.

He said one of the items on the equipment list is "rescue rope" lined with handles and brackets, designed to allow firefighters to search large areas in difficult conditions without losing their way.

"It's not a high-ticket item, but we're going to buy one for everyone," Carr said.

U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., announced that the city won the competitive grant Wednesday afternoon.

"It's great," Mayor Joe Riley said. "We had applied for this, and we have the 20 percent match in our budget."

The federal money will pay 80 percent of the equipment costs, with the city paying the rest.

Riley said the city also has applied for a federal grant that would help pay the salaries of 24 new firefighters. The city hopes to get word on that application later this year.

Reach David Slade at 937-5552 or dslade@postandcourier.com.