Georgia-Pacific is celebrating the heroic efforts of first responders. Recently, the local forest products company donated a total of $23,000 to local fire departments in Lufkin, Hudson, Diboll, and Fuller Springs.
“We will definitely put these dollars to good use in our volunteer fire department,” said Bobby Cranford, Fuller Springs Assistant Fire Chief. “Our department of 14 members is in the process of completing a new fire station that has been a real need in our community for many years, and this contribution gets us closer to finishing the project.”
The Diboll Volunteer Fire Department plans to use its funding to purchase new equipment. “We are always in need of life-saving gear, and unfortunately we are seeing a sharp rise in the cost of this much-needed equipment,” said Gary Jones, Diboll Volunteer Fire Department Chief. “Thanks to the ongoing generosity of Georgia-Pacific, we can get the equipment we need to do our job safely.”
Meanwhile the Lufkin Fire Department will use the Georgia-Pacific donation to enhance its special operations division that responds to situations involving hazardous materials. According to Lufkin Fire Chief Jesse Moody, hazardous materials are transported through and used within the city of Lufkin daily, and this money will help update the team’s equipment and provide new and ongoing training for team members. “Equipping this special operations team can be very expensive. For example, the Lufkin Hazmat truck carries a wide variety of equipment including booms, detection devices, absorbent chemicals, and neutralizing agents. Donations to purchase this special equipment are critical when it comes to providing this service,” said Moody.
Georgia-Pacific is a continuous supporter of the Diboll, Lufkin, Fuller Springs and Hudson Fire Departments in Angelina County. “Firefighters are vital to keeping our community safe,” said Yana Ogletree, Georgia-Pacific Public & Government Affairs Manager. “We appreciate the men and women who risk their lives every day to protect our friends and neighbors, homes and businesses.”
