Volunteers at the West Roane County Volunteer Fire Department (WRCVFD) have just received notice from FEMA that WRCVFD will be receiving funds for 538 10-year smoke alarms.

Once the alarms arrive, they will be distributed to 269 local families, 2 to a family. The Food Pantry in Rockwood will assist with distribution.

We should be very grateful to WRCVFD Fire Chief Charlie Redwine and other volunteers for their work on the grant applications that help keep our community safe. We in Roane County will all be better off for having these extra smoke alarms.

About the West Roane County VFD: WRCVFD is an all-volunteer IRS 501(c)(3) charitable organization that relies on community and grant support to provide emergency medical and fire services.

Recent grants awarded include about $10,000 from the United Way plus training materials and a pumper truck from FEMA.

-- OneTahiti