May 13--Clarkson Fire Chief Andy Cain reported to the City Commission on Monday evening that one of the station's trucks will need repairs after overheating and catching itself and a patch of brush on fire.
Cain said that this season has been one of the worst grass fire seasons he has seen, and that the truck had been "running hard" prior to the incident. As firefighters responded to a grass fire, the vehicle's exhaust set flames to the brush beneath it, which spread to the vehicle as well, causing around $600 to $800 worth of estimated damage.
Cain said the repairs will be less expensive than original thought, but will be necessary to keep the vehicle in good working order.
In other fire department news, Cain also reminded commissioners to spread the word about the annual Crusade for Children fundraising that the department will be doing around town in the coming weeks.
Cain also said that his department is applying for a number of grants, including a 100 percent grant from Firehouse Subs, which could cover $20,000 worth of new heavy rescue tools such as Jaws of Life. Another 50/50 grant from the Department of Forestry could potentially help the department to purchase new tools to be used in wildfire-type situations.
Other City of Clarkson news covered at the commission's regular monthly meeting included:
- The group voted to approve the expenditure of $4,000 on next year's audit proposal.
- Mayor Bonnie Henderson said of the progress of the new City Hall building, "It's exciting. It's moving along and they're doing a great job."
Henderson said Vince Escue, of Escue's Wood Preserving in Millwood, donated approximately 30 posts for the building's covered porch.
The group is still searching for creative solutions to help them best use the old Clarkson school gym flooring in the new building's Redhawk Room.
Copyright 2014 - Grayson County News-Gazette, Leitchfield, Ky.
