Georgia-Pacific today announced it will award $235,500 in Bucket Brigade grants to 50 fire departments for equipment critical to firefighters' safety. Since the grant program started in 2006, Georgia-Pacific has given more than $1.5 millionto fire departments that serve the company's facility communities across the country. 

"Every year, we receive applications from hundreds of fire departments, often requesting very basic items to do their jobs," said Jim Hannan, chief executive officer and president of Georgia-Pacific. "It's critical that we help meet the needs of first-responders who are in harm's way and make our communities safer every day."  

The Bucket Brigade grants this year ranged from $2,500 to $10,000, are based on need and are funded by the Georgia-Pacific Foundation and local Georgia-Pacific facilities around the country. Funds are typically used to purchase new protective clothing and replace items such as damaged safety gear and aging equipment.

Additionally, Georgia-Pacific gives all grant applicants free memberships to The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC), which provides access to tools, resources, programs and advocacy for first-responders across the nation.

"The majority of fire departments in the U.S. are volunteer and they struggle to maintain basic preparedness levels," said Heather Schafer, NVFC's CEO. "Georgia-Pacific Bucket Brigade grants enable departments to obtain equipment so that they can protect lives and property in their local communities.  We applaud Georgia-Pacific's willingness to give back to those who serve."

The fire departments receiving grants this year span 19 states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas and Wisconsin.

Visit Georgia-Pacific Bucket Brigade for more information. To view firefighter statistics click on this infographic and watch this video.