New Hope Fire Department receives grant of nearly $35,000 from state

DENTON — State Fire Marshal Brian Taylor announced that the New Hope Volunteer Fire Department of Randolph County, Inc., was awarded a $34,760.53 grant through the 2026 Volunteer Fire Grant Fund from the State of North Carolina.

The check will be mailed to Fire Chief Don I. Chamberlain to be used by the Department to purchase needed equipment. 

The equipment is purchased using matching funds and must be approved by the Office of State Fire Marshal.

“Fire and rescue organizations protect our communities large and small across North Carolina, but sometimes their budgets don’t grow with their responsibilities,” Taylor said. 

“Our emergency service personnel should be supported with the best equipment and supplies needed to do their jobs correctly and safely.

“I know the New Hope Volunteer Fire Department of Randolph County, Inc., will use the money to serve their community even better. Thank you, Chief Don I. Chamberlain, for all of your hard work and thanks to your dedicated staff.”

The New Hope VFD was the only Randolph County fire department on the list of grant recipients. It received the full amount that it requested.

New Hope Fire Department of Randolph County, Inc., has received a total of $194,018.79 from the Volunteer Fire department Fund since the program began. 

The General Assembly create the Volunteer Fire Departments Fund in 1988 to help volunteer units raise money for equipment and supplies. 

The grant  funds must be matched dollar-for-dollar for an amount approved up to $40,000 unless the department receives less than $50,000 per year from municipal and county funding in which case the applicant shall match $1 for each $3 of grant funds up to $40,000. 

Since the program’s inception, the Office of State Fire Marshal has distributed $201,180,720.00 to volunteer fire departments across the state.