The Pennington Volunteer Fire Company has been responding to calls for help from the Hopewell Valley community for 125 years. In the early days, the firefighters arrived on the scene with little more than buckets, axes, a little bit of training, and a lot of courage. Over the years, while the courage remains the same, the level of technology has changed dramatically. Buckets were replaced by cisterns, hydrants, and tanker trucks. Horse drawn wagons gave way to today’s state of the art fire apparatus with computerized pumps.
Technology has similarly affected how the Pennington Fire Company trains, manages and communicates with its volunteers.
“We use online resources, courses and tools throughout our training today, both individually and in groups. Before we ever try anything in the real world, we now practice it in online simulations,” said Chief Jim DeForte.
The Pennington Day Committee recently presented the Pennington Fire Company with a $5,000 grant to upgrade data and communications infrastructure in the recently renovated Fire House on Broemel Avenue.
“This investment will help the Fire Company as we continue to deploy new training and communication technologies,” said DeForte.
“We are exceptionally pleased to be supporting the Pennington Fire Company with this grant,” said Rachel Donington, President of the Pennington Day Board. “Our organization arose from the Pennington School Fire more than 35 years ago, and we have supported the Pennington Fire Company ever since. We are pleased that this year we can advance their mission with this major gift.”
In addition to this major gift, Pennington Day awarded more than $6,000 in Community Grants to 18 other groups and individuals. A complete list of the 2016 community grant recipients and their projects can be found at PenningtonDay.org/Grants/. There you can also find the grant qualifications and an application form. The 2017 grant cycle opens on February 1st , and applications are due no later than April 15th.
