Friendship Volunteer Fire Department will host its annual Open House and Fire Prevention Day on Saturday, Sept. 5 from noon-3 p.m. There will be free hot dogs, drinks and desserts as well.  The department is inviting all members of the community to this event. 

At this year’s event, the department will also dedicate its new service truck that was recently purchased.  The truck is replacing a 1986 van that was on loan from the state of Alabama. 

“We have worked and planned a long time to get this truck,” Chief Dale Metcalfe said.  “This truck gives our responders added safety to go to and from emergencies and allows us to carry more equipment.  We anticipate these things will allow us to reduce our ISO rating, which will ultimately reduce home owners insurance premiums of most of the people who live in our coverage area.”

The truck is a new 2015 Ford F-550 4 door crew cab.  It will carry additional firefighting equipment and will serve as a back-up rescue unit.  The truck will increase Friendship’s seating capacity by 20 percent.  It is also important to note that the full purchase of the truck and body was paid for solely by donations made to Friendship Volunteer Fire Department from the community.

In addition to the truck dedication, The Forestry Commission’s “Smokey” the bear is scheduled to attend this year’s open house.  This is in connection with a new multi-agency project Friendship has joined in with the Alabama Forestry Commission.  The goal of the project is to limit the threat of wild fires.   Alabama Forestry Commission personnel will be onsite to give advice on ways homeowners can do their part.  

Lastly, Friendship would like to announce the receipt of a grant from the Department of Homeland Security, Federal Emergency Management Agency.  The grant totals $71,372.00 FEMA will supply $67,974 of the funding and Friendship will match 5 percent of that amount to reach the total.  The purpose of the grant is to purchase 14 new self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA).