Hawkins County Volunteer Fireman’s Association seeking donated fire apparatus
Greetings Friends:
As many of you know I am in my 66th year in the fire service and continue to serve as an active member, currently serving as President of the Hawkins County Volunteer Fireman’s Association. The Hawkins County Volunteer Fireman’s Association is actively engaged in seeking donations of fire apparatus for eight Hawkins County volunteer fire departments. The average age of the firefighting fleet in Hawkins county is over 28 years.
Hawkins County is an “At Risk” county located in Northeast Tennessee. Distressed counties rank among the 10 percent most economically distressed counties in the nation. Hawkins County’s Index Value Rank of 3,113 counties is 2,386. The Per Capita market income (2019) in Hawkins County was $23,020 with a 19% poverty rate. The pandemic had a major negative impact on Hawkins County volunteer fire departments fundraising activities. The average Hawkins County volunteer fire department budget is less than $50 thousand per year with almost half of that expended on apparatus and building insurance.
Our mission is to focus on seeking donated fire apparatus to replace old apparatus averaging thirty years old or older. Last month we received a 2000 Pierce Contender engine donated by the Town of Montverde, Florida that replaced a 1975 CF Mack engine that was in dire need of replacing.
Most of you are in areas where the fire service is fully supported by local and state government and particularly the citizenry at large. From time to time communities will donate surplus apparatus to areas where there is a need. There are more than thirty counties in Tennessee that are Distressed or At Risk of becoming distressed. We respectfully request your organization consider donating any surplus apparatus where it will be placed in service as a front line apparatus.
Our Association appreciates the consideration of this request. Please feel free to contact me should you require additional information.
Thank you one and all.
Bill Killen
William D. Killen, FIFireE, CFO
President
Hawkins County Volunteer Fireman’s Association
526 Whitetail Road
Church Hill, TN 37642-4338
423-765-8789 cell
Email: Kirkbo65@charter.net