Piedmont fire department receives grant

The Piedmont Fire Department will receive an $85,000 federal grant to buy needed equipment for the department.  Fire Chief Mike Ledbetter told the Piedmont city council Tuesday that he learned of the grant award late last week. Ledbetter said The money will be used to buy eight $5,500 breathing devices, 11 fire suits that cost about $2,000 each, a heat-detecting device for about $2,500 and a $2,000 tank used to provide air to firefighters who have been incapacitated while fighting a fire.  Ledbetter said the grant frees up $40,000 that the city had earmarked for the breathing devices, money  the department will likely use to buy additional protective suits, fire hoses or small tools.  In an unrelated matter, Ledbetter also told the council that the department’s insurance rating has improved by one point on a one to 10 scale. As a result, he said, property owners will likely see their insurance rates drop beginning in August.