RCFS awarded Chesney Fallen Firefighters Memorial Grant

CLAYTON — The Rabun County Fire Service received a charitable grant which will be allocated for purchasing smoke alarms.

The 2018 Chesney Fallen Firefighters Memorial Grant was awarded to RCFS by the Georgia Firefighters Burn Foundation (GFBF) in the amount of $2,875.20.

The GFBF is a statewide nonprofit organization whose mission is to partner with the fire service and burn care community to provide fire safety and prevention education, support medical facilities and assist burn survivors in their recovery.

The Chesney Fallen Firefighters Memorial Grant Program was founded in memory of Gwinnett County career firefighter, Brant Chesney, who lost his life on December 27, 1996, battling a fire as a volunteer with the Forsyth County Fire Department. The grant also exists to honor and remember all other fallen firefighters who have lost their lives in the line of duty in the State of Georgia.

Grants awarded under this program are to be used by fire departments in the State of Georgia to develop a new program or enhance an existing public life safety program, dedicated primarily to fire safety and burn prevention education.

According to the GFBF, over 20 applications were received to be considered for the grant. However, only 6 departments including RCFS, made the cut and collectively received over $15,000.

Funding for the grant and other GFBF services is made possible by the annual  “Give Burns the Boot”  fundraising campaign which is supported by a number of fire departments around the state — as well as individual donations and corporate sponsors.