The Princeville Volunteer Fire Department recently received an $89,000 grant from the federal government.

Princeville Fire Chief Billy Boddie said the grant was the largest one the department has ever received and will be used to purchase a variety of equipment. The equipment includes self-contained breathing apparatus, turnout gear, lights for the department's fire trucks, new pagers, radios, fire hose and generators for a fire truck and for the station.

Boddie said the grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security will fund 95 percent of the equipment's cost, with the department covering the remaining 5 percent.

The chief said Edgecombe County Fire Marshal Butch Beach helped fill out the paperwork. He thanked Beach and County Manager Lorenzo Carmon for their efforts helping Edgecombe's fire departments receive grant money for new equipment.

Beach said the money for Princeville is "a nice shot in the arm" to boost the department's equipment.

Boddie called the grant a "big, big plus (that) came at the right time," so the department can outfit their two newest trucks it bought in 2006 and 2007.

Boddie said Princeville currently has a 7/9E ISO fire coverage rating, which it will try to improve to a 6/9E rating next year, hopefully to reduce homeowners' insurance rates in Princeville. He said the new equipment will help.

Princeville's vehicle fleet includes a 1,250-gallon pumper, three 1,000-gallon pumpers and an emergency services vehicle for patient transport.

For the 25 members of Princeville's fire department, Boddie said a lot of time is spent training with the vehicles and equipment, as well as spending "hours and hours" to maintain their equipment.

Through Tuesday, Boddie said Princeville Volunteer Fire Department responded to 307 fire, emergency services and county fire mutual aid calls this year.

He said most of the calls were for fire and emergency services response in rural parts of Edgecombe County.