East Pittman VFD building dedicated

East Pittman Volunteer Fire Department Chief Dewey Crutchfield snipped the ribbon Saturday as the Pittman community and county leaders came together to dedicate the new fire hall and community center on State 2

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The $293,000 project was funded by a $75,000 grant for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, a $218,000 Community Development Block Grant and a local match from Holmes County. The building has three vehicle bays to house all three Pittman fire trucks, a meeting room, and a kitchen.

“We all put a lot of work into this,” said Board of County Commissioners Chairman Raymon Thomas. Thomas praised the late Bert Belyeu for donating the property for the fire house, and the late Malcolm Owens as two examples of service to the department. “Neither one of them ever missed a run,” Thomas said. Belyeu was able to make a meeting in the new firehouse before he died earlier this year. Ray Lewis is the last charter member still serving on the department (see related article).

Holmes County native Perry Jackson represented USDA. “Being from Holmes County this means a lot more to me that other [USDA] members,” he said. “This kind of project is what USDA is here for.”

Thomas challenged the large crowd and the rest of the county to support their volunteer fire departments, especially with recent state budget cuts. Thomas repeated earlier estimates that the County could lose anywhere from $300,000 to $500,000 in state revenue. Fire departments are only one budget item that could be badly hurt by the cuts. He urged departments and the communities they serve to step up fundraising activities.

“What we give can just about pay for diesel fuel,” Thomas said.

“If we are going to have community fire departments we need new people to come on board,” Thomas said. “I challenge those in the crowd to become participants in fire department.” Noting that several departments have trouble getting volunteers to respond during the day time, Thomas said that, “the more that are qualified the more we will have to respond. Let’s get involved.

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History of Pittman Volunteer Fire Department

January 1982 – Bruce Huggins organizes the incorporation of the department.

March 1982 – The department has its first meeting and Bill Seay is named chief. A fundraising fish fry is held. The department originally operates out of East Pittman Baptist Church.

•In the ensuing years the department gets its first truck, a surplus USAF fuel truck supplied by the Department of Forestry.

•Carl and Vonzie Vaughn donate the property for a firehouse. The barn-like building just east of the new firehouse served for many years.

•2000 – The first application is made for funding for a new firehouse on property donated by Bert Belyue located just west of the intersection of County 179 and State 2.

2004 – A new attack truck is obtained from a grant.

•2008 – Funding is finally obtained for the new firehouse. The ribbon is cut May 10, 2008.