CCF Grant Recipient Feature: Blairs Fire & Rescue

Blairs Fire & Rescue, a volunteer organization that provides fire suppression, emergency medical services (EMS) and technical rescue services to the citizens of Pittsylvania County, Va., received a Charitable Contributions Fund (CCF) grant from Farm Credit of the Virginias in the fall of 2023. The $10,000 grant was awarded to help Blairs Fire & Rescue purchase the specialized equipment needed to rescue individuals trapped in stored grain.

Blairs Fire & Rescue is one of twenty-one fire departments in Pittsylvania County, originally founded in 1976 as Blairs Volunteer Fire Department. In the early 2000s, the department also became a transport EMS facility (agency). They respond to about 1,700 calls annually, most of which are EMS related but about 400-500 are fire or rescue related emergencies. The department has 60 highly trained and highly motivated members on the role.

Blairs Fire & Rescue has the highest number of technical rescue trained individuals in Pittsylvania County. They have a diverse service area, from the suburbs of Danville to very rural corners of the county. The department operates a ladder truck, a rescue engine and a fire suppression engine. They also operate rescue boats, as the town of Blairs sits north of the Dan River. In 2023, Blairs Fire & Rescue received recognition for Outstanding Volunteer Response in the Governor’s Fire Service Awards.

Pittsylvania County is one of Virginia’s top counties for agricultural production. Historically, Pittsylvania County’s agricultural production was driven by tobacco, beef and dairy operations. In the last ten years, the county has seen an uptick in grain production (especially corn), which drastically increased the need for grain bins. However, the increase in the number of grain bins needed throughout the county outpaced the education and training resources surrounding grain bin safety among farmers. This is what fueled Blairs Fire & Rescue’s desire to apply for a Farm Credit CCF grant and have the ability to purchase the life-saving equipment needed to assist with grain bin entrapment rescues. The equipment consists of a grooved metal panel that creates a circle around the trapped individual, which allows an auger to drill down and push the grain aside while a rope aids in pulling the individual out of the bin.

Stephen Barts, deputy chief of administration for Blairs Fire & Rescue, submitted the grant application on behalf of the department. He has been in Pittsylvania County’s public safety system for over 20 years, and he serves as the county’s extension agent. Stephen is also a farmer himself, so the agriculture industry and keeping all those involved safe have always been near and dear to his heart.

“Without Farm Credit’s support, we wouldn’t have been able to purchase the necessary equipment and have the necessary training for when a grain bin emergency arises. We never know when emergencies will come up. We appreciate Farm Credit’s vested interest in rural communities. Grain bin rescue equipment is not used daily, weekly, maybe not even annually, but it is critical to save lives, and we wouldn’t have been able to purchase it without the CCF grant,” shared Stephen.

This story was published in the Winter 2024 Leader Magazine. Access the full magazine (digital version) HERE.