[quote name='BFD1151' post='320731' date='Jul 12 2009, 13:24 ']Rich,
It does seem unusual that a fire department would sell fireworks but you also have to understand how things work in TN. Many departments run on very limited budgets so they have to find different ways to raise funds to get the equipment they need. In several rural counties in TN, the county government will give each dept $15-$25,000 then the rest of the funds have to come from somewhere else because there is no fire tax in these communities. It is like the VFDs in these areas are an afterthought for the local government giving them such a small amount of money. This is why you will see lots of second, third or even fourth-hand trucks in eastern TN.[/quote]
Micah, I understand all of that. It's just that fireworks out of the hands of licensed professionals are not safe. Do they do any cow chip bingo? My friends in Georga tell me that's very popular fundraising for many organizations.
It does seem unusual that a fire department would sell fireworks but you also have to understand how things work in TN. Many departments run on very limited budgets so they have to find different ways to raise funds to get the equipment they need. In several rural counties in TN, the county government will give each dept $15-$25,000 then the rest of the funds have to come from somewhere else because there is no fire tax in these communities. It is like the VFDs in these areas are an afterthought for the local government giving them such a small amount of money. This is why you will see lots of second, third or even fourth-hand trucks in eastern TN.[/quote]
Micah, I understand all of that. It's just that fireworks out of the hands of licensed professionals are not safe. Do they do any cow chip bingo? My friends in Georga tell me that's very popular fundraising for many organizations.
Rich Dean, Butler, New Jersey, USA
Member of Kinney Hose Co. 1, Butler Fire Dept. since 1973, Fire Police Officer since 2000
Dispatcher at Butler Police Communications from March 1975 to July 2009
Secretary of North Jersey Volunteer Firemen's Association since 1980
Member of Tri-Boro First Aid Squad (volunteer ems) since 2000 as a driver
Member of many Yahoogroups, owner of some such as:
[post="0"]FirematicEvents Yahoogroup[/post]the place to for listing and discussion of any event by a public safety organization.
[post="0"]RailfanEvents Yahoogroup[/post]
[post="0"]Railpics Yahoogroup[/post]
Member of Kinney Hose Co. 1, Butler Fire Dept. since 1973, Fire Police Officer since 2000
Dispatcher at Butler Police Communications from March 1975 to July 2009
Secretary of North Jersey Volunteer Firemen's Association since 1980
Member of Tri-Boro First Aid Squad (volunteer ems) since 2000 as a driver
Member of many Yahoogroups, owner of some such as:
[post="0"]FirematicEvents Yahoogroup[/post]the place to for listing and discussion of any event by a public safety organization.
[post="0"]RailfanEvents Yahoogroup[/post]
[post="0"]Railpics Yahoogroup[/post]
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