Somerville gets firefighters grant

Somerville Area Volunteer Emergency Services has been awarded a $51,956 federal grant for the replacement of equipment on its three fire engines.
Congressman Robert Aderholt. R-Haleyville, said the grant is part of the 11th round of the Fiscal 2009 Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program.
Since 2001, the program has awarded $4 billion in grants.
S.A.V.E.S. Fire Chief David Nelms said the grant would be used to replace 4-inch diameter hoses with 5-inch hoses on the fire engines along with adapters and 3,600 feet of 1-3/4-inch hand lines to replace 1-1/2-inch lines. New nozzles for the larger hand lines were purchased with a prior federal grant.
The increased line size will enable firefighters to be more efficient in fighting fires, Nelms said.