Volunteer fire departments across the area will soon be receiving new protective equipment and other tools after the Carter County Commission last week approved over $95,000 worth of purchases for three volunteer fire departments.

The Gene Autry fire department will receive nearly $28,000 worth of hoses and other tools to outfit a fire truck, while departments in Wilson and Criner Hills will receive more than $67,000 worth of personal protective equipment to replace aging equipment.

The Carter County Commission on Monday, Jan. 27, unanimously approved the purchases that were recommended by the county fire chiefs’ association.

The Criner Hills Volunteer Fire Department will also receive a nearly $7,000 machine meant to wash carcinogens from firefighting gear. Criner Hills fire chief Michael Campbell said that he would be willing to let other departments in the county use that machine to wash their gear in an effort to extend the life of it.