Georgia-Pacific Bucket Brigade Grant Application Period Now Open

The application period for the 2009 Georgia-Pacific Bucket Brigade grant program is now open. Fire departments located near the company’s facilities are eligible to apply for a grant to help purchase needed gear and equipment. The deadline for applications is August 1.

The Georgia-Pacific Bucket Brigade recognizes firefighters in communities that have Georgia-Pacific facilities, or where Georgia-Pacific employees reside, for their contributions in making the community, homes, and workplaces safer. The program’s support focuses on volunteer and small-town fire departments through monetary grants for equipment, resources, and programming, as well as safety education materials for use in local schools.

Since 2006, the Georgia-Pacific Bucket Brigade program has awarded more than $300,000 to fire departments in over 50 communities. Georgia-Pacific Bucket Brigade grants help departments meet critical needs and obtain the resources necessary to improve the effectiveness and safety of those who serve. Grants have been used to fund a variety of necessities, including turn-out gear, extrication equipment, vehicle repairs or purchases, water pumps, hoses and nozzles, programming initiatives, and more.

The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) has partnered with Georgia-Pacific to increase the outreach efforts to fire departments in Georgia-Pacific communities, many of which are volunteer departments, to ensure that these departments are aware of the grant program and have the opportunity to contact their local Georgia-Pacific facility and apply for funding. All applicants for the 2008 Georgia-Pacific Bucket Brigade program also received a complimentary year-long Department Membership to the NVFC.

“We are pleased to partner with Georgia-Pacific to help departments take advantage of this terrific grant program,” said NVFC Chairman Philip C. Stittleburg. “The Georgia-Pacific Bucket-Brigade initiative is a prime example of a company giving back to the first responders who serve them, and we encourage all departments in Georgia-Pacific communities to utilize this opportunity to help secure the equipment and resources they need.”

Contact your local Georgia-Pacific facility to obtain the Bucket Brigade grant application form. For more information, visit http://www.gp.com/aboutus/bucketbrigade/index.html or e-mail gpbucketbrigade@gpac.com. To view a listing of Georgia-Pacific communities, visit www.gp.com/facilitydirectory/index.asp.

Hand entrapped in rope gripper

Elevator Rescue: Rope Gripper Entrapment

Mike Dragonetti discusses operating safely while around a Rope Gripper and two methods of mitigating an entrapment situation.
Delta explosion

Two Workers Killed, Another Injured in Explosion at Atlanta Delta Air Lines Facility

Two workers were killed and another seriously injured in an explosion Tuesday at a Delta Air Lines maintenance facility near the Atlanta airport.