Fire department benefits from grant

Harlem firefighters got to add a few new outfits to their closet thanks to a grant from the Georgia Municipal Association.

The city, a member of GMA since 1989, applied for a Safety and Liability Management Grant in May, which was created to provide financial incentive to assist members in improving their employee safety and general public liability loss control efforts through training and the purchase of equipment or services.

The department received approval in June and a $4,988.50 check in November. The money bought four new sets of turnout gear, which can easily cost more than $1,000 each, and two self-contained breathing apparatus.

"They were badly needed," said Jean Dove, the city manager. "Some of their turnout gear, I would speculate, was 15-years or older. It is very expensive."

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Harlem is a member of GMA through local risk management of the association.

"Last year, they actually received a grant for the same thing, so this is the second round we were able to apply for," Dove said. "They have been able to buy more."