BLOUNTVILLE, Tenn. (WJHL) – A luncheon was held Friday at the Ron Ramsey Regional Agriculture Center to recognize fire departments and rescue squads across six counties in Northeast Tennessee.

Sullivan, Johnson, Hawkins, Carter, Washington and Unicoi counties were honored by local legislators and presented with grant checks for each department.

Kevin Walters, spokesman of the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance and the state Fire Marshals’ office, said the money will be set aside to help volunteer fire departments buy equipment.

“We want to keep those members safe as they go out to serve their communities because they’re the ones who are on the front line whenever there is a fire or an emergency,” said Walters. “They’re the ones who run toward the danger, and they ought to have the equipment that they need to keep them safe.”

Kenneth McQueen, Chief of Shady Valley Volunteer Fire Department, said the grant has been tremendous for his department, and his team is grateful to the senators who have worked diligently to secure the grants.

McQueen’s department received $18,000 through the grants and was able to buy a new thermal imaging camera.

“This is very important to us, and we’re looking forward to the future because our next purchase will be our packs that we need to purchase and upgrade,” he said.

McQueen said the generosity uplifted his team, and being able to purchase new equipment has brought a sense of accomplishment to the volunteer firefighters.