Where our money comes from
Kentucky state fire aid, an appropriation from the county for a portion of utilities, fuel, and insurance, fundraisers, and donations from people who live here. That's it. There is no fire tax district behind us and no line item that grows with inflation.
What that means in practice is that state aid and the county cover a floor, and everything above the floor is on us to raise. Fire equipment is expensive and it does not get cheaper because we're volunteers.
What donations actually buy
Not much of it is dramatic. A set of turnout gear runs into the thousands of dollars and has to be replaced on a schedule whether it's been used hard or not. Air packs and the cylinders that go in them are the same story. Beyond that it's hose, nozzles, batteries, foam, fuel, tires, and the maintenance bills on trucks that up to thirty years old.
We are not asking for anything we don't use. If you want to know exactly where a donation went, ask us and we'll tell you.
How to donate
Checks can be made out to Brindle Ridge Volunteer Fire Department
- Mail to 8763 North Wilderness Road, Mount Vernon, KY 40456
Brindle Ridge Volunteer Fire Department is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, EIN 61-1295730. Donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law, and we will provide a receipt for any donation on request.
Ways to help that aren't money
Let us use your water
This is the single most valuable thing a landowner in this district can do for us. If you have a pond, a creek with year-round flow, or another spot where a tanker could get in and draft, tell us. We'll come look at the access, and if it works we'll add it to our maps. Nothing gets built and nothing gets disturbed, we just want to know it's there before we need it at three in the morning.
Let us walk your property
If you own a farm, a business, a church, or anything with more to it than a single-family house, we'd like to come through and make notes about the layout, the utility shutoffs, and how we'd get a truck in. It takes half an hour and it saves us a great deal of guessing later.
Participate in the fundraisers
They're announced on our Facebook page. Showing up is worth more than you'd think, and not only for the money.
Join us
People are harder to come by than money. If you can give time instead, read this first.